Genes for generosity?

Are those inclined towards generosity genetically programmed to behave
that way? A team of researchers, including Dr. Ariel Knafo of the
Psychology Department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, believes
that this could very well be the case.

Through an online task involving making a choice whether or not to
give away money, the researchers found that those who chose to give
away some or all of their money differed genetically from those
involved in the exercise who chose not to give their money away.

The scientists conducted the experiment with 203 online "players".
Each player could choose to keep the equivalent of $12 he was
allocated, or to give all or part of it to an anonymous other player.

Those involved also provided DNA samples which were analyzed and
compared to their reactions. It was found that those who had certain
variants of a gene called AVPR1a gave on average nearly 50 percent
more money than those not displaying that variant. The results of the
study were published online recently in the research journal Genes,
Brain and Behavior.

"The experiment provided the first evidence, to my knowledge, for a
relationship between DNA variability and real human altruism," said
Knafo, who conducted the research along with other researchers,
including Prof. R. P. Ebstein, Prof. Gary Bornstein, and Salomon
Israel of the Psychology Department at the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem.

The gene AVPR1a codes for the production of a receptor that enables a
hormone, arginine vasopressin, to act on brain cells. Vasopressin, in
turn, has been implicated in social bonding. The researchers found
greater altruism in players in which a key section of the AVPR1a gene,
called its promoter, was longer. The promoter is the region of a gene
that allows cellular machinery to bind to it and determine how much
gene product is made. In the case of this gene, a longer promoter can
result in greater activity.

The findings could help biologists sort out altruism's evolutionary
history, according to the scientists. They noted that a version of
AVPR1a also exists in rodents called voles, where it also promotes
social bonding. This suggests that altruism has a long rooted genetic
history, which may have taken on a new role during human evolution.

Source: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
http://www.physorg.com/news116164996.html

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: BBB how much do you think they really cost? Gene losing his shirt or not on this project.
    ... This wasn't about "business" or money for Gene, ... It simply proves that repro pins under Gene's business plan will lose money. ... Hip Hip Hooray!! ...
    (rec.games.pinball)
  • Re: Gene rants again
    ... It blows anything The half a tribute band Kiss ... if he and Paul put a little bit of money into recording ... Gene is all talk. ...
    (rec.music.artists.kiss)
  • Re: Gene rants again
    ... Gene is far too lazy to make new music. ... Gene is afraid of risk. ... He wants others to invest in him. ... if he and Paul put a little bit of money into recording ...
    (rec.music.artists.kiss)
  • Re: Nappa is history????
    ... Gene was setting himself up for bankruptcy when he collected all that deposit ... promising and telling them he would eventually send them ... It's the point where he took the money that was sent ...
    (rec.games.pinball)
  • Re: Our soldiers
    ... least Gene tells you up front he's in it for the money and unlike ... Obama, Gene doesn't force me to fork out more money than I want to. ... You bitch and bitch about things Bush did but when Obama does ...
    (rec.music.artists.kiss)