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The Mechanism of Heredity
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According to Biology, “special abilities-musical, artistic, mechanical and mathematical have a heredity basis and their inheritance is separate from that of general intelligence."'16
Heredity and environment :
It is suggestive from the study of the rise of Karma, etc. from the points of view of dravya (substance ), ksetra ( locus ), kāla (time), bhava (life of birth ) and bhāva ( condition )17 that both physical and mental traits are the result of the interplay of both genetic (i. e. from the aspect of dravya) and enviromental factors (i.e., from the aspects of Ksetra, kāla, bhava and bhāva.)
According to Biology, “A few genes, such as, those that determine the blood groups, produce their effect regardless of the environment. The expression of other genes may be markedly affected by altered environment."18 The upper limit of a person's mental ability is determined genetically as is indicated in the later stages (daśās) 19 of his life but how fully he develops inherited abilities is determined by environmental inferences 20 by his training and experience.
It is easy to understand why the offspring of intelligent parents are sometimes less intelligent (manda ) than either parent because of past Karma.21 Biology explains this point in this way that “Since the co-ordinate action of many pairs of genes is involved in intelligence the fortunitous combination of those which produced the intelligent parents be broken up by genic segregation. Conversely, the chance recombination of favourble genes may produce a brilliant child from average parents, (but geniuses are never produced by feeble - minded parents).22
16. Biology, p. 504. 17. "Udayakkhayak khayovasamovasamā Jam ca kammuno bhanitā / Devam Khertam
kālam bhavam bhāvam ca samppappa", Viseșāvaśyakabhāşya. gātha 572, L.D.
Series, p. 119. l'. Biology, p. 506. 19. Samkuiyavalicammo, Sampatto a thamidasam / närinam ca anisho ya, Jarac
pariņāmio" (8) (39) navaminmumuhị Dáma, Jam naro dasamassio / Jaraghare viņassa mte, jivo vasai akāmao / (9) (40) bina bhinnasaro dino, vivavio vicittao / dubbalo dukkhio suyai, sampalio dasamim da sam (10) (41)" Tandula
Veyaliya, p. 16. 20. "Khetta í Kalam bhavam bhāvam ca samppappá /", Vbha. Gā 572, p. 119; 21. First Karmagrantha with auto-commentary, Devendrasuri, p. 2.
"Kşamabhrdan kakayormanişijadayoh...... Karmanibandhanań /" 22. Biology, p. 506.
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