Editing Predictability (section)

==In biology==
In the study of biology – particularly [[genetics]] and [[neuroscience]] – predictability relates to the prediction of biological developments and behaviors based on inherited genes and past experiences.

Significant debate exists in the scientific community over whether or not a person's behavior is completely predictable based on their genetics. Studies such as the one in Israel, which showed that judges were more likely to give a lighter sentence if they had eaten more recently.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/04/11/justice-is-served-but-more-so-after-lunch-how-food-breaks-sway-the-decisions-of-judges/#.WcrXEq2ZP_Q|title=Justice is served, but more so after lunch: How food-breaks sway the decisions of judges}}</ref> In addition to cases like this, it has been proven that individuals smell better to someone with complementary immunity genes, leading to more physical attraction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/may/24/genes-human-attraction|title = Gene research finds opposites do attract| website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date = 24 May 2009}}</ref> Genetics can be examined to determine if an individual is predisposed to any diseases, and behavioral disorders can most often be explained by analyzing defects in genetic code. Scientist who focus on examples like these argue that human behavior is entirely predictable. Those on the other side of the debate argue that genetics can only provide a predisposition to act a certain way and that, ultimately, humans possess the free will to choose whether or not to act.

Animals have significantly more predictable behavior than humans. Driven by natural selection, animals develop mating calls, predator warnings, and communicative dances. One example of these engrained behaviors is the Belding's ground squirrel, which developed a specific set of calls that warn nearby squirrels about predators. If a ground squirrel sees a predator on land it will elicit a trill after it gets to safety, which signals to nearby squirrels that they should stand up on their hind legs and attempt to locate the predator. When a predator is seen in the air, a ground squirrel will immediately call out a long whistle, putting himself in danger but signaling for nearby squirrels to run for cover. Through experimentation and examination scientists have been able to chart behaviors like this and very accurately predict how animals behave in certain situations.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1007/BF00293209|title = Alarm calls of Belding's ground squirrels to aerial predators: Nepotism or self-preservation?|journal = Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology|volume = 17|issue = 4|pages = 313–323|year = 1985|last1 = Sherman|first1 = Paul W| bibcode=1985BEcoS..17..313S |s2cid = 206774065}}</ref>