The importance of cultural inheritance.
Cultural inheritance refers to the storage and transmission of information by communication, imitation, teaching and learning. It is transmitted by the brain rather than by genes. However, it does have a genetic basis, the genes involved determining the structure of the brain. Cultural inheritance is considered to be the latest stage in the evolution of heredity. It is thought to have evolved by epigenetic mechanisms from genetic inheritance. This article proposes that cultural inheritance underlies normal behaviour and mental disorders.
Peedicayil
J
J
Department of Pharmacology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore 632 002, India.
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005823:Genetics; D006801:Humans