Many times during the series, a distinction is made in women’s ability to channel. Some can be “taught to channel”, and a subset of those that can learn are “born with the ability”, meaning that eventually they will channel whether they are trained or not.

First I thought it was sort of the wizard vs sorcerer discussion, where theoretically anyone can learn to channel, but it comes much easier and more naturally to others.

But it’s established early on that channeling is semi-genetic, and the white tower has culled their own population be recruiting every channeler they can find. Not just anyone can learn to channel, you have to be, well…born with the ability to. Like with the Seanchan, not anyone can be a Sul’dam, you have to be able learn to channel.

So what I don’t understand is: 1. Why is this distinction made? Why is it “taught” vs “born”, if you have to be born with the ability regardless? It’s still channeling at the end of the day, and it still requires training to do it. 2. What even causes the difference? What is it that makes some people have the ability to channel naturally, and others could never know without training?