Proposal: Nature versus Nurture is an old and well know debate about the importance of inherent and learned behaviors. I am not particularly interested in vying for one point or another, but more in how intermediary traits affect others that are predominantly determined by either memes or genes. How do these connections affect genetic and cultural evolution?
The Nature/Nurture debate is important to understanding how groups develop, both genetically and socially. Societies have a wide variety of fascinating traditions and genetic oddities, from opposable thumbs to language and symbols. Ideas originating in the debate can be extended to a better understanding of how genetic diseases spread through social networks, and maybe to a better understanding of the lifecycles of tradition.
We plan to use Starlogo to model a system of genetic, memetic and intermediary traits, intertwined with a network of distinct social groups. The program will focus on how traits interact with each other, and on how those interactions affect people, society and genetics.

Schools: Monte Del Sol + Home School
Sponsors: Irene Lee + Nancy Marquis
Mentors: Will and Janette Fischer

Team Members:
Laura Breen (MDS)
Hannah Haynes (MDS)
Kayla McMurtry (MDS)
Talaya White (Home)
Dakota Lopez (MDS)

Team Members:

  Talaya White
  Laura Breen
  Dakota Lopez
  Kayla McMurtry

Sponsoring Teacher: NA

Mail the entire Team