10 January 2002

Human behaviour: Human condition

Is there such a thing as 'human nature'? The search for universal human characteristics comes up against tricky exceptions — not everyone can walk, or talk, or grieves when a loved one is lost. But the preoccupation with universality may be unnecessary, and even misleading — greed and lust are prime candidates but some people display them more than others. Now, with tools such as genomics and brain imaging, we are in a better position than ever to examine the genetic and physiological roots of human nature in all its variation.

Seeking universals
MELVIN KONNER
Nature 415, 121 (10 January 2002)
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