Chapter Seven, Instinct
This chapter discusses whether the form and existence of language has a genetic component. Specifically, "specific language impairment" as possibly related to a gene on Chromosome 7. Ridley discusses the scientific disagreement between Canadian linguist Myrna Gopnik and others regarding whether this disorder relates to difficulties with grammar formulation, or is more broad intellectual disorder. Genome, at page 104-05.
Read more about this topic: Genome (book)
Famous quotes containing the word instinct:
“So I soon made up my mind about the poets too: I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled them to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean.”
—Socrates (469–399 B.C.)