Are Culture or Genes Driving High Family Sizes in Certain Groups?

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The discussion centers on the factors influencing high completed family sizes among different groups, highlighting the interplay between culture and genetics. It is noted that both elements play a role, with evolutionary principles dictating family size based on resource availability and nurturing behaviors. Species that invest less in nurturing, like ants, tend to have larger family sizes, while those that nurture more, like humans, typically have smaller families. The conversation also touches on the impact of agricultural technology, which has expanded the limits of resource availability for human populations, potentially allowing for larger family sizes. The term "agri-technology" is introduced to describe advancements in farming efficiency, though the more traditional term "agriculture" is also acknowledged.
edpell
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Is it culture or genes or both that drive some groups to have high completed family sizes?
 
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edpell said:
Is it culture or genes or both that drive some groups to have high completed family sizes?
It's both. There is a sustainability factor within nature for a large or small family. The idea is that parents that do not nurture infants, like ants will produce more than parents who spend the energy to nurture their infants, like humans. This is usually controlled through evolution depending on resource usage, space, etc. There is usually a limit for every species
However, for humans, with the rise of agri-technology (i just made that up btw, don't know the term), you can say that the limit has increased.
 
as much as I like agri-technology I think the term is farming or if you want to be fancy agriculture.
 
Well see i would have said farming, but I am referring to the technologies that have made farming efficient; hence agri-technology
 

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