If we define "beauty" as having blue eyes (and only blue eyes), then we will, indeed, find a "gene for beauty." If we define "intelligence" as the performance on only one kind of test, then we will, indeed, find a "gene for intelligence." The genome is only a mirror for the breadth or narrowness of human imagination. Siddhartha Mukherjee
About This Quote

The study of DNA is important because it enables scientists to read the entire book of life, if not the entire book. It will tell them what they need to know about humans, dogs, and even bananas. But it will also show whether people think that bananas are pretty. It doesn't matter how many genes there are for beauty.

If people don't believe that the banana is beautiful, then they aren't going to find out about any of its features by looking at its genome. That's why Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection has no bearing on the genetic makeup of the banana.

Source: The Gene: An Intimate History

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  1. If we define "beauty" as having blue eyes (and only blue eyes), then we will, indeed, find a "gene for beauty." If we define "intelligence" as the performance on only one kind of test, then we will, indeed, find a "gene for intelligence." The genome...
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