# Can behavior affect our DNA **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2023, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736 "2023-11-07T06:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/141 "2023-11-11T01:15:35Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > The more I read the more I am convinced it is not non sense And yet you are unable to cite anything that you have read that supports any of your claims. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/142 "2023-11-11T01:24:08Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > And yet you are unable to cite anything that you have read that supports any of your claims. I will go back and highlight the parts of the last link I posted that apply directly to my hypothesis, And I know you are dying to hear my pet theory. I kind of suspect that a very highly charged cocktail of neuro chemicals present in the seminal fluid might stimulate certain sperm more than others. I don’t think that is beyond the realm of the imagination. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/143 "2023-11-11T01:32:24Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I kind of suspect that a very highly charged cocktail of neuro chemicals present in the seminal fluid might stimulate certain sperm more than others. I don’t think that is beyond the realm of the imagination. Nor is Time Cube beyond the realm of the imagination, because Time Cube guy dreamt it up. And this is Time Cube biology, with no connection to reality. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/144 "2023-11-11T01:35:41Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Nor is Time Cube beyond the realm of the imagination, because Time Cube guy dreamt it up. And this is Time Cube biology. I will try and find a page on facebook that deals with evolution and get their expertise on the subject. That should be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/145 "2023-11-11T01:44:28Z")
Sadly I think Gene Ray the Time Cube guy died, so I don’t think you will be able to track _him_ down on Facebook to discuss your profound ideas with him. But the domain [timecubebiology.com](http://timecubebiology.com) seems to be available, if you want to take up his legacy in the burgeoning field of neurosemenological theory. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/146 "2023-11-11T01:57:42Z")
[quote=“Riemann, post:145, topic:992736”] But the domain [timecubebiology.com](http://timecubebiology.com) seems to be available, if you want to take up his legacy in the burgeoning field of neurosemenological theory. [/quote) When you think about it this would be the perfect place for a feedback loop pushing intelligence in humans could take place. It does appear that humans gained intelligence at a much faster rate than other primates. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/147 "2023-11-11T02:08:30Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > When you think about it this would be the perfect place for a feedback loop pushing intelligence in humans could take place. Testicles in general, or _your_ testicles in particular? ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/148 "2023-11-11T02:10:57Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > The article establishes that it does make a difference. Finding out what that difference is would be almost impossible. It’s not possible to establish that it does make a difference without establishing something about what that difference is. So if you have no idea what the difference is, then you have no idea whether there is a difference. > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I will try and find a page on facebook that deals with evolution and get their expertise on the subject. Try a textbook. Why would you think that a random page on facebook knows anything at all about the subject? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/149 "2023-11-11T02:12:16Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Why would you think that a random page on facebook knows anything at all about the subject? I think that’s a feature, not a bug. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/150 "2023-11-11T02:12:26Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Try a textbook. Why would you think that a random page on facebook knows anything at all about the subject? I was being factitious ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/151 "2023-11-11T02:17:47Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > factitious “artificially created or developed”? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/152 "2023-11-11T02:18:36Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > “artificially created or developed”? I think he meant fictitious. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/153 "2023-11-11T02:20:32Z")
I think he probably meant facetious. But it’s pretty difficult in general to tell what his posts mean. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/154 "2023-11-11T02:21:19Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I think he probably meant facetious. (I know, it was a joke.) ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/155 "2023-11-11T02:21:19Z")
[quote=“Riemann, post:152, topic:992736”] I think he meant fictitious. [/quot > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I think he probably meant facetious. But it’s pretty difficult in general to tell what his posts mean. Yes, but spell check must have kicked in. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/156 "2023-11-11T02:23:04Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Yes, but spell check must have kicked in. Or a karma-mediated reality check. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/157 "2023-11-11T02:49:36Z")
There might be a relatively easy test for someone that was so inclined to go through the trouble. Using rats, No selective breeding. Create an environment that encouraged activity and mental stimulation and just see if succeeding populations got smarter. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/158 "2023-11-11T02:51:55Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > There might be a relatively easy test for someone that was so inclined to go through the trouble. Using rats, No selective breeding. Create an environment that encouraged activity and mental stimulation and just see if succeeding populations got smarter. This sounds like letting all the rats that already exist just continue living their normal lives. I’ll say this for your scientific method, it requires little effort or expense. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/159 "2023-11-11T03:02:44Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > This sounds like letting all the rats that already exist just continue living their normal lives. > > I’ll say this for your scientific method, it requires little effort or expense. Are wild rats known to be smarter than domestic rats, do we have population in science already bred for intelligence? A simple test like that would not be conclusive of anything but if well controlled and documented it might be enough to encourage advancement of a theory. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/160 "2023-11-11T03:10:41Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Are wild rats known to be smarter than domestic rats, do we have population in science already bred for intelligence? We do need an experimental control. Let’s set up two separate breeding populations, one all-male and one all-female. If your neurosemenological theory is correct, only the all-male population with the testes will breed subsequent generations of smarter offspring. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736.md?page=9)