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Genetic Switches Behind 'Love' Identified In Prairie Voles
ananyo writes "Researchers have shown for the first time that the act of mating induces permanent chemical modifications in the chromosomes (epigenetic changes), affecting the expression of genes that regulate sexual and monogamous behavior in prairie voles. Prairie voles have long been of interest to neuroscientists and endocrinologists who study the social behavior of animals, in part because this species forms monogamous pair bonds — essentially mating for life. The voles' pair bonding, sharing of parental roles and egalitarian nest building in couples makes them a good model for understanding the biology of monogamy and mating in humans (abstract)."
The voles' pair bonding, sharing of parental roles and egalitarian nest building in couples makes them a good model for understanding the biology of monogamy and mating in humans
A good model for ideal human behavior, sure, but actual behavior?!? One wonders if the researchers have met any actual human couples.
Somehow I strongly doubt that any such epigenetic (or other) monogamy-influencing event takes place when humans mate.
https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
"This is a study I myself wanted to do years ago,” says Thomas Insel, who heads the US National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland. “...This study for me really is the first experimental demonstration that the epigenetic change would be necessary for the long-term change in behaviour.”
Insel continued. "Unfortunately, due to a scandalous bit of contrived fiction, we here at NIMH have been prohibited from doing this kind of work for decades. Every attempt to work on a rodent model is sabotaged, with a Frisbee left at the scene and the words 'REMEMBER NICODEMUS' spray-painted on the wall. Police never found a suspect, and eventually Congress pulled the funding. Hopefully our colleagues at Florida State can continue this valuable work without such interference!"
Everything is better with chainsaws.
"a good model for understanding the biology of monogamy and mating in humans"
Are humans that close to prairie voles? Because bonobos, our closest actual relation evolutionary speaking, are highly sexualized and totally polygamous.
http://brembs.net/bonobos.html
Of course, if one is seeking to bolster some culturally-determined myth of monogamy (so as to uphold property rights and inheritance, perhaps) then you've got to look pretty far afield for examples of monogamous species.
We know where leadership by an anti-intellectual "strongman" who scapegoats minorities and likes boisterous rallies goes
By definition, no. Any mistakes perceived by the vole would be removed by the chemical modifications.
Praire voles have permanent beer-goggles.
Just because biology is talking, doesn't mean you have to listen.
Now you've done it: cue the "free will" flame wars...
https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
Humans aren't entirely monogamous, but along the spectrum observed in other species --- from rigid monogamy to "mate with anything that moves" --- humans are at least semi-monogamous; frequently pair-bonding, if not for life, at least for the relatively long period for offspring to be born and reach self-sufficient maturity. Understanding the biological mechanisms backing "strongly monogamous" mammalian behavior may also provide information about what biological mechanisms contribute to humans' less total tendencies towards monogamy.
Just because biology is talking, doesn't mean you have to listen.
If that's your strategy, you probably are destined for disappointment. IMHO, it's best to learn how to identify and avoid situations that force you to confront your biology.
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
Ask any woman and they will tell you that all men are not voles, but are in fact, pigs.
or you end up with a very stratified society where virtually nobody marries anyone outside their current socio-economic caste.
Well, at least in the US, "very stratified society" is a fairly apt description. Some basic statistics are available in the Wikipedia article on US social mobility. While not "officially" enforced as in a caste system, the US has many institutions that discourage inter-class mixing. People of considerably different economic status generally grow up in different neighborhoods, go to different schools, and end up in a formally class-stratified workplace (with distinct "labor" vs. "management" roles, corresponding to large differentials in salary and social interaction). The US displays a combination of high inequality and low mobility generally only exceeded by considerably less developed nations.
One can hardly call this "human nature" when pretty much every other developed country has higher equality and social mobility --- if anything, the US is bucking the trend of human nature to seek higher ideals of equality and freedom once technological development allows the satisfaction of lower needs. Of course, the key is not convincing more rich white male rich guys to marry their Mexican maids despite a complete lack of shared culture, but to create a society where there is a sense of shared culture and humanity between people in all walks of life. For example, having a robust and high-quality public education system so both the kids of millionaires and janitors grow up socializing together is a key component in more egalitarian societies. So to is having high minimum wage standards and social safety nets, so that even maids can have time/access to hobbies and culture and forming relationships outside of a depressed community of grinding poverty. When living on a lower quintile income isn't a death sentence for your children's hopes and dreams and future, then there is much less of a barrier to marrying for love across income lines.
Culturally maybe, but not biologically. I just read an article a few months back about why our penises are shaped the way they are. Basically, the head is optimized to siphon another male's semen out of a woman during the thrusting action. That slightly uncomfortable sensitivity you feel after orgasm is nature's way to stop your thrusting so you don't accidentally siphon out your own semen.
I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
Yes, you got it...
I was thinking more along the lines of: if you are married, don't go out for drinks with the cute girl from work :)
And yes, that does make me slightly more boring - but that's rather the point! Not all kinds of excitement are good - get to know yourself and your weaknesses.
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.