The acronym DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) has become fairly common in our everyday parlance and is often used to imply something innate within us. Anything from one’s familial habits, to one’s physical features or the propensity for certain mannerisms, diseases, even addictions are often chalked up to this magical component of our being.
In all fairness the use of the acronym DNA in these contexts is not entirely incorrect. After all DNA is the hereditary material which codes genetic information for the transmission of our inherited traits. For the purposes of this discourse, let’s call it one’s Genetic DNA and add to it, its two lesser-known cousins: Cultural DNA and Acquired DNA. The latter two are not as commonly utilized in usual everyday discourse and are instead, typically found in discussions about civilizations, nations, and populaces.
Furthermore, Acquired DNA tends to be ongoing and dynamic while the other two tend to be comparatively more foundational and static. This is because Genetic DNA is our very own blueprint – a map of whence we came. Cultural DNA typically refers to one’s environment in our formative years – for most that would be the country, city, village or town, and family where we were born and raised. Acquired DNA on the other hand refers to behaviors and beliefs we learn and adopt as we experience life – a cumulative and ever changing report card of our choices and adaptability.
The second video in my series “the thing about change” is a brief history of some of my Cultural and Acquired DNA.