Is genetics enough for brain development to occur?

Our genes are at the center of everything that makes us human. They do everything from determining the colour of our eyes to our skin colour to our height. Every celling our body is made up of exactly the same genes, but not all are active. At least one third of 20,000 different genes are active within the brain. These are influential to the development and function of the brain. 

The project named the Human Genome project is now complete, but there is still so much we don’t know about our DNA and what it does. There are some scientists that have began making genetic maps of the brain searching for certain genes that play a key role in brain development. We know our genes do play a role as there has been many comparisons made between our genes and those of other species. There are different patterns in which decide whether a gene will be active or inactive, and by studying these, scientists can gain a more insightful view.

However our genes are not the only thing that effects our brain development. Combined with the environment we have grown up in and in what respect we have been raised our brains will develop differently. For example, a person locked in an empty cell with the bare minimum to survive, will not develop at the same rate as someone in a caring and nourishing environment will. This has been tested with rats. Some were locked in a cage with only food, and the others were put in a different cave with the addition of wheels and toys – effectively stimuli. When they were released back into their natural habitat the rats in which were brought up with thee addition of stimuli excelled, whereas the others seriously struggled highlighting their lack of development. From this study is clear to see that environmental stimulation has an impact.