Talk:Bending arts/@comment-201.42.190.193-20120318125254/@comment-4888161-20120427072949

The genetics only determine which element (or elements in the case of mixed race like Mako/Bolin) a person is eligable to bend if they become a bender at all. It does not decide if they will be a bender, or grant the powers themselves. It simply shows the elements the person is eligible to have bending powers for. Often that is only the elements of the country their family descended from, but again in mixed raises it can be a choice from than one element. The Avatar is also the exception because it is a spiritual reincarnation.

Again, genetics do not decide anything except which element(s) a bender has the possibility to be aligned with if they do become a bender. The rest is likely spiritual.