--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are all born with a genetic…" description: "\"“We are all born with a genetic inheritance—but your genes are activated by the environment. They can be switched on, or off, by what happens to you.”\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/johann-hari-20885_biology_we-are-all-born-with-a-genetic-inheritan_1851050.jpg" --- # We are all born with a genetic inheritance—but your genes… ![“We are all born with a genetic inheritance—but your genes are activated by the environment. They can be switched on, or off, by what happens to you.” quote by Johann Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/johann-hari-20885_biology_we-are-all-born-with-a-genetic-inheritan_1851050.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/johann-hari-20885_biology_we-are-all-born-with-a-genetic-inheritan_1851050.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/johann-hari-20885_biology_we-are-all-born-with-a-genetic-inheritan_1851050.jpg) > ““We are all born with a genetic inheritance—but your genes are activated by the environment. They can be switched on, or off, by what happens to you.”” [Johann Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-hari/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Genes set potentials, but environment determines which traits are expressed, highlighting the power of upbringing and experiences. **In simple terms:** Environment shapes how genes work. Key Takeaway Cultivate supportive surroundings. Themes biology environment development potential psychology Mood thoughtful encouraging analytical Type scientific inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - education - workplace culture - health interventions Key Concepts epigenetics nature vs nurture plasticity Questions to Reflect On - How can you modify your environment to foster growth? - What habits can you change to activate positive traits? A Different Perspective Genetic predispositions may limit change despite environment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) ## Related quotes > [My daughter was born with a genetic condition called cystic fibrosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everlast/my-daughter-was-born-with-a-genetic-condition-called-cystic-fibrosis/) [Everlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everlast/) > [While our behavior is still significantly controlled by our genetic inheritance, we have, through our brains, a much richer opportunity to blaze new behavioral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/while-our-behavior-is-still-significantly-controlled-by-our-genetic/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [No conscious person can read Peter D'Adamo's works without considering much more thoughtfully how their genetic inheritance relates to their needs for specific food,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bland/no-conscious-person-can-read-peter-d-adamo-s-works-without/) Jeffrey Bland > [“Each of us begins life with the seeds of a unique genetic inheritance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-h-clark/each-of-us-begins-life-with-the-seeds-of-a-unique-genetic-inheritance/) Donald H. Clark > [“Genes can be activated or turned off by factors in the environment. In the Cree population of northwestern Ontario, for example, diabetes is found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/genes-can-be-activated-or-turned-off-by-factors-in-the-environment-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“here’s a highly simplified version of the next chapter’s focus on genes: (a) each gene specifies the production of a specific type of protein;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/here-s-a-highly-simplified-version-of-the-next-chapter-s-focus-on/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“A sliver of a man stood on a corner beside a charcoal garage door, a plume of smoke twisting from his hand. 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That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born-that-2/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [I was born with the genetic condition called 'achondroplasia,' which I inherited from my dad: my mam is average height, and my dad is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-burke/i-was-born-with-the-genetic-condition-called-achondroplasia-which-i/) [Sinead Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-burke/) > [“I inherited a lot from my mother, including delicate features, long legs, and dark hair, but the biggest genetic inheritance has been her homicidal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandra-torre/i-inherited-a-lot-from-my-mother-including-delicate-features-long/) [Alessandra Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandra-torre/) > [“Stephen Oppenheimer of Oxford University, a specialist in DNA studies, says: ‘Every non-African in Australia, America, Siberia, Iceland, Europe, China, and India can trace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-marr/stephen-oppenheimer-of-oxford-university-a-specialist-in-dna-studies/) [Andrew Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-marr/) > [“There is a significant hereditary contribution to ADD but I do not believe any genetic factor is decisive in the emergence of ADD traits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/there-is-a-significant-hereditary-contribution-to-add-but-i-do-not/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [If we didn't have genetic mutations, we wouldn't have us. You need error to open the door to the adjacent possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-johnson/if-we-didn-t-have-genetic-mutations-we-wouldn-t-have-us-you-need/) [Steven Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-johnson/) > [Genetic engineering is a result of science advancement, so I don't think that in itself is bad. If used wisely, genetics can be beneficial,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/genetic-engineering-is-a-result-of-science-advancement-so-i-don-t/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [You know, there's a tremendous amount of genetic propensity not necessarily for what TV shows you like but for literally how you view the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayim-bialik/you-know-there-s-a-tremendous-amount-of-genetic-propensity-not/) [Mayim Bialik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayim-bialik/) ## More by Johann Hari > [“The Italian philosopher Paolo Virno says we have moved from having a “proletariat”—a solid block of manual workers with jobs—to a “precariat,” a shifting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-hari/the-italian-philosopher-paolo-virno-says-we-have-moved-from-having-a/) [Johann Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-hari/) > [“It might look discouraging , but at every relapse, you learn something new.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-hari/it-might-look-discouraging-but-at-every-relapse-you-learn-something/) [Johann Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-hari/) > [“I respect you as a person too much to respect your ridiculous beliefs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-hari/i-respect-you-as-a-person-too-much-to-respect-your-ridiculous-beliefs/) [Johann Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-hari/) > [I got my dad a great father's Day present. 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