Earlier quoted context omitted.
Technically true, but sophist's experience is consistent with scientific findings. Sibling studies have repeatedly shown that genes do account for a significant amount of variation in behavior. While environment plays a role as well, the "blank slate" theory is flat wrong. For an overview of the evidence, I recommend The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker.
As far as I can tell, no one here has posited the blank slate theory. My point was that the conclusions we come to about the world around us are the largest factor in determining where we end up on the spectrum between mediocre and extraordinary. If we really thought DNA was more important than our beliefs, we would spend less time trying to correct and inform each other on Hacker News and more time getting our genes…
Twin studies have shown, as far as intelligence is concerned, that when two identical twins are raised in two different environment their intelligence is quite similar.
Now who plays the greater role? Well who came first the chicken or the egg?
Was it the environment who turned on a certain gene, or was it the gene who went to find a certain environment?
When children start education most are the same. Most watch television, most go to school. Does the child prefer watching television because of his genes or because of the environment?
I personaly can not doubt that both play a role, but also I can not doubt that in most circumstances the environement tends to play a greater role. Nonetheless neither can be discaunted and both are crucial.