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Scientists Discover Gene For Ruthlessness
Pioneer Woman writes "Researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem have found a link between a gene called AVPR1a and ruthless behavior. These findings come from an economic exercise called the 'Dictator Game' that allows players to behave selflessly, or like national dictators and 'little Hitlers' found in workplaces the world over. The team decided to look at AVPR1a because it is known to produce receptors in the brain that detect vasopressin, a hormone involved in 'prosocial' behavior. Researchers tested DNA samples from more than 200 student volunteers, before asking the students to play the game that measured their altruism. There was no connection between the participants' gender and their behavior but there was a link to the length of the AVPR1a gene."
You can't take the sky from me...
Let me tell you about ruthlessness. I own a small business, with six employees. We do Flash games, web development, and other custom software projects. On Friday I wasn't feeling so well. A bit of the flu, I suppose. Regardless of my health, our work must go on. So there the entire company was, sitting in our 10'x10' meeting room with two representatives from one of our larger clients. In short, I shit my pants. It wasn't a solid shit, either. It was diarrhea that ended up dripping down my legs onto my shoes, and then onto the carpet. And in a meeting room as small as ours, packed with nine people in it, it isn't an enjoyable experience. Needless to say, the reps from our client were not impressed. And tomorrow I get to deal with the repercussions of the whole ordeal. Since I clean our office (we can't afford a cleaning firm), I'll probably get to clean up the now-dried stool that has no doubt been festering there all weekend.
You know that bulls are cows, right?
I ask because I once knew an American who didn't know that lambs were sheep.
How we know is more important than what we know.
It's been well established that Saddam and his two sons are sociopaths. In fact, his daughter Raghdad showed similer behavior traits as well. I've always had a hard time believing these were just problems from how they were raised as a family. Given the heinousness of their actions, I'm willing to bet there is a genetic link.
Question is, will we ever run DNA tests? If we have, will the results ever be accessable under the Freedom of Information Act?
Life is not for the lazy.
How we know is more important than what we know.