--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is the nature of the genetic…" description: "\"What is the nature of the genetic endowment? How does acquisition proceed? Etc. Scientists do routinely ask similar questions about the visual system, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/noam-chomsky-42_acquisition_what-is-the-nature-of-the-genetic-endowm_1168857.jpg" --- # What is the nature of the genetic endowment? How does… ![“What is the nature of the genetic endowment? How does acquisition proceed? Etc. Scientists do routinely ask similar questions about the visual system, system of motor organisation, and others - including, in fact, the digestive system.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/noam-chomsky-42_acquisition_what-is-the-nature-of-the-genetic-endowm_1168857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/noam-chomsky-42_acquisition_what-is-the-nature-of-the-genetic-endowm_1168857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/noam-chomsky-42_acquisition_what-is-the-nature-of-the-genetic-endowm_1168857.jpg) > “What is the nature of the genetic endowment? How does acquisition proceed? Etc. Scientists do routinely ask similar questions about the visual system, system of motor organisation, and others - including, in fact, the digestive system.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientists explore how genetic endowment shapes acquisition across systems, questioning nature versus nurture. **In simple terms:** Study how genetics and learning interact. Key Takeaway Investigate innate abilities and learning processes. Themes cognitive science genetics learning theory Mood analytical inquisitive Type academic thought‑provoking When to use this quote - education policy - AI modeling - neurodevelopmental disorders - language teaching Key Concepts nature vs nurture neuroscience developmental psychology Questions to Reflect On - How much of ability is innate versus learned? - What methods reveal the interaction of genes and environment? A Different Perspective Genetic determinism can oversimplify complex learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquisition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquisition/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Digestive system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digestive-system/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Endowment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endowment/) [Etc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/etc/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Genetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genetic/) [Genetic Endowment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genetic-endowment-1253260/) [Including](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/including/) [Motor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motor/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Organisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisation/) [Questions Visual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions-visual-3379153/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Similar Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/similar-questions-3379154/) [Visual Motor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual-motor-3379155/) [Visuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visuals/) ## Related quotes > [A person's genetic endowment, a product of the evolution of the species, is said to explain part of the workings of his mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/a-person-s-genetic-endowment-a-product-of-the-evolution-of-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [A meritocracy is a system in which the people who are the luckiest in their health and genetic endowment; luckiest in terms of family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/a-meritocracy-is-a-system-in-which-the-people-who-are-the-luckiest-in/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [With respect to why some acquired savants are musical, and some are good at the arts, and some are mathematical, why aren't they all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/with-respect-to-why-some-acquired-savants-are-musical-and-some-are/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [Why does everyone take for granted that we don't learn to grow arms, but rather, are designed to grow arms? Similarly, we should conclude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/why-does-everyone-take-for-granted-that-we-don-t-learn-to-grow-arms/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Like other organisms, humans have a certain genetic endowment (apparently varying little in the species, not a surprise considering its recent separation from other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/like-other-organisms-humans-have-a-certain-genetic-endowment/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If we understood, as we do not, the physical bases for intellectual structures, I have little doubt that we would find structures in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-we-understood-as-we-do-not-the-physical-bases-for-intellectual/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Some innate capacity - some part of the human genetic endowment - enters into language acquisition. That much is uncontroversial among those who believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/some-innate-capacity-some-part-of-the-human-genetic-endowment-enters/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“I don't think that, when future generations look at the apartheid struggle, they will see it as quite the momentous literary cauldron that recent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/i-don-t-think-that-when-future-generations-look-at-the-apartheid/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [“I'll buy lunch." "Not Hungry." I laughed. He said, "I can't stand when you do that." "Do what?" "Assume I'm ruled by my digestive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kellerman/i-ll-buy-lunch-not-hungry-i-laughed-he-said-i-can-t-stand-when-you-do/) [Jonathan Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kellerman/) > [“But the reformers were right: the bovine digestive system is an extraordinarily efficient mechanism for converting grass, fodder, and even forage into fertilizer.15 Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-johnson/but-the-reformers-were-right-the-bovine-digestive-system-is-an/) [Walter Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-johnson/) > [Your digestive system is your body's Fun House, whereby food goes on a long, dark, scary ride, taking all kinds of unexpected twists and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/your-digestive-system-is-your-body-s-fun-house-whereby-food-goes-on-a/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“a traditional approach to dining, a far less hurried one, that many people in France enjoy. They take the time to savor the meal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prentice/a-traditional-approach-to-dining-a-far-less-hurried-one-that-many/) [Steve Prentice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prentice/) > [“Humble pie tastes horrible but is great for the digestive system.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-silva/humble-pie-tastes-horrible-but-is-great-for-the-digestive-system/) [Sissy Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-silva/) > [In college, I would eat a lot of Five Guys and burgers. Everybody eats differently, but that's not the best for your digestive system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caris-levert/in-college-i-would-eat-a-lot-of-five-guys-and-burgers-everybody-eats/) [Caris LeVert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caris-levert/) > [I'm a big fan of the digestive system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-macaulay/i-m-a-big-fan-of-the-digestive-system/) [David Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-macaulay/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More Acquisition quotes > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [ No one suffers so much as he \[the genius\] with the people, and, therefore, for the people, with whom he lives. For, in a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/no-one-suffers-so-much-as-he-the-genius-with-the-people-and-therefore/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [Personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a checklist of acquisition. Your qualifications are not your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/personal-happiness-lies-in-knowing-that-life-is-not-a-checklist-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-may-affirm-that-the-balance-of-power-in-a-society-accompanies-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Learning to play the guitar is a combination of mental and motor skill acquisition. And to develop motor skill, repetition is essential... Whenever musicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-roberts/learning-to-play-the-guitar-is-a-combination-of-mental-and-motor/) [Howard Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-roberts/) > [All worldly pursuits have but one unavoidable and inevitable end, which is sorrow; acquisitions end in dispersion; buildings in destruction; meetings in separation; births…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/all-worldly-pursuits-have-but-one-unavoidable-and-inevitable-end/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/when-ice-appears-out-of-doors-and-boys-seize-it-up-while-it-is-solid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Accounting consequences do not influence our operating or capital-allocation decisions. When acquisition costs are similar, we much prefer to purchase $2 of earnings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/accounting-consequences-do-not-influence-our-operating-or-capital/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [A sustainable economy represents nothing less than a higher social order one as concerned with future generations as with our own, and more focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-r-brown/a-sustainable-economy-represents-nothing-less-than-a-higher-social/) [Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-r-brown/) > [One industrial age belief is that GDP or GNP is a measure of progress. I don't care if you're the President of China or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/one-industrial-age-belief-is-that-gdp-or-gnp-is-a-measure-of-progress/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [I ended up doing four or five plays in college and being an English major with my thesis in language acquisition, which I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-coon/i-ended-up-doing-four-or-five-plays-in-college-and-being-an-english/) [Carrie Coon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-coon/) > [But most automotive dealerships are set up for customer acquisition - which is crazy when you consider the average cost of customer acquisition is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hughes/but-most-automotive-dealerships-are-set-up-for-customer-acquisition/) [Arthur Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hughes/) > [As priestcraft was always the enemy of knowledge, because priestcraft supports itself by keeping people in delusion and ignorance, it was consistent with its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/as-priestcraft-was-always-the-enemy-of-knowledge-because-priestcraft/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Even as the unborn babe is in the womb of his mother, these five are fixed as his life destiny: his life span, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-as-the-unborn-babe-is-in-the-womb-of-his-mother-these-five-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What becomes of a man who acquires a beautiful woman, with her "beauty" his sole target? He sabotages himself. He has gained no friend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/what-becomes-of-a-man-who-acquires-a-beautiful-woman-with-her-beauty/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) [Browse all 395 Acquisition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquisition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is the nature of the genetic endowment? How does acquisition proceed? Etc. 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