Nah Toot - it HAS to be both. Our genes give us our starting point in life and then we are shaped by the thrills and spills that life throws up at us - how can it be otherwise?

I think its through personal experience. I was a sweet carefree young girl ,was loved in a strong secure family circle and was content to sit crosslegged on the grass and make daisychains...Then circumstance changed and real life took over ,leaving that sweet little child behind and replacing her with a grown up young lady who would have to take on the world and fight for survival... but then, looking at my offspring,  they would probably have a far different opinion and say it was in their genes.

If you look at criminal reoffenders, I think there's a case there somewhere in their background, same goes for fine upstanding citizens, if you look into their gene pool, you will probably find they came from a long line of fine upstanding citizens.

Now why can't we have both toot? It has to be both. Babies are born with distinct personalities and traits formed by their genes. Our genes form our foundation and life experience provides the moulding but the ways we respond to life experience probably goes back to our genetic makeup. 

Fair enough Robi, we can't always agree on everything.  Remember in the old days a prospective spouse for your child had to be checked out for any insanity that might be in the family history?  Thankfully that doesn't happen today, but sadly many of us suffer from depression, anxiety and other psychological problems which can be traced back through the family tree to Aunty Beth or Uncle Harry.

A great topic, i would have to say genes, but having said that ones circumstances and early learning experiences have a great impact on our morality and how we handle life. I have known people who were born "perfect" and who were raised with every financial advantage, re education, family guidance, etc topple at the first hurdle and never achieve , whilst others born with faulty  genetics from much poorer backgrounds rise to the top and do really well. My conclusion is people with difficulties are tempered by lifes challenges, making them overcome problems through sheer determination, where the  others had no reason to work hard ,as life was generally handed to them on a golden plate, thus not preparing them for adversity..just my opinion...Peanuts

That's what we need Peanuts, lots of different opinions.

Must say I tend to think both nature and nurture. Studies on identical twins separated at birth can show great similarities but also vast differences in behaviour - likewise even in identical twins those brought up together can still show big differences in achievements and aspirations, whilst others can remain very similar throughout life.

Sorry Toot I canno't choose one either but love the topic.

I believe we are born with genes which run in families, BUT luckily, hopefully  the ones which are not desirable to hold onto - naming just a couple, murder, pedaphilia, alcoholism can, with good nurturing and guidance, be pushed out of the nature of the person.

I would love to believe that Phyl but I've changed my mind as I've got older. Take adoption for an example, years ago I read about an American woman who adopted a baby from Russia.  He  grew up to be so unruly and hard to handle, she nearly went mad and finally took him back to Russia and gave him back.  Russia has since banned Americans from adopting babies.

I think if you adopt a baby with anti-social genes, no matter how much love, stability and encouragement is given in its upbringing,  they will revert to whatever his/her genes determine them to be.

Just saying.....

I see what you are saying Toot and know things like big noses, balding hair, big bellies, sticking out ears,  big eyes/small eyes etc etc in families are family traits/genes and cannot be changed (sure surgery) :)