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156/JAIN STUDIES AND SCIENCE
Modern psychology, with the aid of genetic engineering, has reached a conclusion that the diversity in human behaviour is result of heredity and environment both. A group of genes forming chromosomes determine the inherited properties. These chromosomes are the vehicles through which the hereditary qualities migrate from older to the newer generation at the time of fertilization. But, had it been the only factor, all new-borne would be the carbon copies of their respective parents! That being not the case, environment plays an important role too. However, the uniqueness of each individual and most of the times the vast difference in the natures of next and erstwhile generations compel us to seek explanations beyond psychology and genetics.
Mahapragya has deeply studied the Karmic theory and the modern psychology. He states that the Karmic theory can well explain the exceptionality of each and every individual. Life might look like starting from the fertilization, but the soul is pre-existent. The chromosomes are responsible for inherited merit or demerits, but the Karma are responsible for the overall personality and behaviour. While the former are too rigid to be changed or modified physically, the karma can be wilfully altered to enable us to evolve.
1.3. Genetics
Far reaching advances have been made in the field of genetic engineering. Gene is a part of chromosome (a mega-molecule made up of DNAs) and is made of chemical proteins. The word 'chromosome' is made up of two Greek words - chromo (colour) and soma (body). Biologists have established, beyond doubt, that the coded information is carried from generation to generation by the genes. This statement sounds very similar to the karmas carrying information from one birth to the next. In the natural process, these genes undergo a slow change depending upon the climate, environment, nourishment, health, etc. But, biologists are very near to alter the genes chemically to obtain desirable characteristics and attributes of an organism. In some cases, they have been successful to eliminate, in-embryo, certain genes which were carrying the codes of different diseases. With this knowledge, the Darwin's theory of evolution has come full circle; modification of genes to suit and survive in a given environment has now been substantiated. Jain readers must recall here that the mention of various life-forms of Lord Mahavira before his birth as Siddhartha has several parallels with the theory of evolution. In his preceding births - before assuming the human form - Mahavira lived several births in various animal forms, including the one of elephant, lion etc. All these descriptions convey but one fact - how humans have acquired best characteristics to evolve as a superior life form.
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