Man's many-sided biological identity

Abstract

Far from being a simple and monolithic notion, man's biological identity embraces several closely related – but nevertheless partially autonomous – facets. Both the molecular identity and the easily identifiable body and face morphology derive quite directly from a unique set of genes. But the latter interacts, in a highly complex way, with a unique life-history in the progressive moulding of all the individual characteristics of brain functioning that underlie an individualized and evolving mental life, with the attitudes and behaviours that express it.