Cultural dynamics add multiple layers of complexity to behavioural genetics

Abstract

As emphasized in early cultural evolutionary theory, understanding heritability of human traits - especially, behavioural traits - is difficult. The target article describes important ways that culture can enhance, or obscure, signatures of heritability in genetic studies. Here, we discuss the utility of calculating heritability for behavioural traits influenced by cultural evolution and point to conceptual and technical complications to consider in future models.