What would prove decisively whether the B/W IQ gap is due to genes or not?
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Replying to @ImmuneHack
Physical differences around brain structure would seal it. There are no plausible causal links between environment and physical brain differences. That alone would show differential selective pressure on brains which is sufficient to show that the differences are genetic.
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Replying to @CovfefeAnon @ImmuneHack
Not really, would then need to link physical structure to IQ results, and further confirm IQ results validity as such.
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Replying to @LoCtrl @ImmuneHack
You're thinking about it incorrectly - showing the physical structure differences is absolute definitive proof of differential selective pressure and of genetic differences in brain development. (Also the IQ -> brain volume part has been done)
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Replying to @CovfefeAnon @ImmuneHack
A physical difference in organs is evidence but not a proof of selection pressure on that specific organ. Harmless mutations and path dependency could cause divergence. Occasionally genes are responsible for several things at once.
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Replying to @CovfefeAnon @ImmuneHack
No. Many genes are pleiotropic. As a consequence, a change can in sttucture could carry no effect because it is a side effect of selection acting on a completely different function. On top of that, there is drift https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/pleiotropy-one-gene-can-affect-multiple-traits-569/ …
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Replying to @LoCtrl @ImmuneHack
Right, you're insane. "No, you see brain structure and size differences by human species are caused by differential selective pressure in other areas that cause them but those differences then have no functional results."
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Replying to @CovfefeAnon @ImmuneHack
Look I was an evolutionary biologist in my former life. One of the first things you learn in evolutionary biology is to be careful about inferring specific selection pressure from a single difference in morphology.
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It's not a single difference. You're insane if you're not drawing conclusions about selective pressure based on different brain sizes and all the adaptations around them (pelvic width, gestation period, time to maturity).
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