Talk:Bending arts/@comment-4816926-20130111000333/@comment-3005995-20130111001720

As GC stated below, spiritual upbringing doesn't play really any part in a child's ability to bend. The more correct term would be "cultural" or "societal" upbringing, if that had anything to do with it at all. I'm sure that it can effect bending, though, as it was stated that Sokka had the potential to waterbend, but never attempted it. For example, a child could be born with untapped musical potential, but if their parents never exposed them to any sort of musical instrument, then they'd never develop that skill.

I think that there is only a single gene that defines your ability to bend, and that it isn't mixable in any way. You either bend a single element or none. In relation to your last question: if a child with the potential (right genetic structure) to be an earthbender but was raised in a society completely void of earthbending (which would be unusual in this mixed-cultural world that exists now, and vitrually impossible in Republic City) and fully focused on firebending, it would be extremely unlikely, but still possible, for the child to develop the skill. Earth is all around you regardless, unless you live at sea.