Is personality determined by nature or nurture? New research suggests environment is stronger than genes
Personality traits are inherited through observed behaviour, not genetics
Foster parents have greater influence on personality development than birth parents in zebra finches
Study raises questions about the inheritance of personality in humans
By NICOLA ROWE
4 June 2013 | UPDATED: 22:00 GMT, 4 June 2013

The debate over whether nature or nurture defines personality has taken a further twist after scientists found foster parents have a greater impact on personality than directly inherited genes from parents.

Researchers at the University of Exeter and the University of Hamburg used the zebra finches to investigate how personality is transferred between generations.
They found that foster parents have a greater influence on the personalities of fostered offspring than the genes inherited from birth parents.

The research measured personality by placing the zebra finches in a new environment and counting the number of features they visited.
Some were shy, staying mainly in one place while others explored widely demonstrating a more outgoing personality. Male and female birds were then paired up and allowed to breed.
Each clutch of eggs was fostered by another pair just prior to hatching. Offspring personality was measured once they were adults.

Offspring size was also measured and was found to be primarily genetically inherited and not significantly influenced by foster parent size.
Dr Nick Royle from the University of Exeter said: 'This is one of the first experiments to show that behaviour can be non-genetically transmitted from parents to offspring.

Researchers found that foster parents have a greater influence on the personalities of fostered offspring than the genes inherited from birth parents

NATURE OR NURTURE - WHAT IS IT?
'Nature' refers to your innate qualities - 'wired in' traits that occur without having to think about them
Focuses on genetically and neurologically-based behaviour
'Nurture' refers to the needs we develop based on our surroundings
Believes that all behaviour is learned from our environment

Our study shows that in zebra finches, personality traits can be transmitted from one generation to another through behaviour, not just genetics.'
Speaking to MailOnline, Dr. Royle said, 'It's important to understand more about the mechanisms underlying the inheritance of personality.
'Most previous studies have found personality to be genetically heritable, but few studies have looked at the potential for personality to be non-genetically transmitted.
'Our research findings are therefore surprising because they show that, for zebra finches, personality is primarily determined by the environment they experience after hatching.
'We know this because we cross-fostered eggs just before hatching, so any genetic parent effects on personality were limited to the time before hatching.'
He added: 'Although this study considers personality inheritance in zebra finches, it raises questions about the inheritance of personality in other species, including humans.
'Do adopted children inherit the personality characteristics of their birth parents or their adoptive parents? Is the environment more important than genetic inheritance in the development of personality? '
The research was published in the journal Biology Letters.
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