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Genes have a role in empathy, study says
It helps us to make close connections with people, and influences how we behave in a range of situations, from the workplace to a party. Now scientists say empathy is not just something we develop through our upbringing and life experiences - it is also partly inherited.
A study of 46,000 people found evidence for the first time that genes have a role in how empathetic we are. And it also found that women are generally more empathetic than men.
[...] Participants in the study had their "empathy quotient" (EQ) measured with a questionnaire, and gave saliva samples for DNA testing. Scientists then looked for differences in their genes that could explain why some of us are more empathetic than others. They found that at least 10% of the differences in how empathetic people are is down to genetics.
Varun Warrier, from the University of Cambridge who led the study, said: "This is an important step towards understanding the role that genetics plays in empathy. But since only a tenth of the variation in the degree of empathy between individuals is down to genetics, it is equally important to understand the non-genetic factors."
The genomic data came from 46,861 23andMe users.
Genome-wide analyses of self-reported empathy: correlations with autism, schizophrenia, and anorexia nervosa (open, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-017-0082-6) (DX)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @01:41AM (10 children)
So, they're starting to quantify what every dog breeder and farmer has known for ages: temperament is hereditary. This includes empathic markers.
Well, that's great.
Wait, it's not great, because it means a bunch of whiners will talk about their right to dictate how everybody else behaves, and how it's not fair that one can be congenitally gay, but shouldn't be able to congenitally be an asshole.
Let me put in my whinathon earplugs.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @02:10AM
No. You can't. Don't even try.
(Score: 2, Informative) by anubi on Tuesday March 13 2018, @06:21AM (6 children)
Yup...
Some Russians have been experimenting on breeding out the "wild" part of foxes, turning them into companion animals. [fastcompany.com]
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @07:20AM (1 child)
There are old studies doing this with dogs. They eventually discovered the tamer dogs had lighter fur and the more aggressive dogs had darker fur. Modern dogs are breed with a generic 'disability' which makes them far too trusting and needy on us. We love our purpose-bred, animal slaves.
Another word for this research is "domestication". We've been doing this to animals since before known history.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @09:20AM
Look closer... "animals" are not the only mammals being "domesticated".
Even before Biblical days, some of us have been domesticating the rest of us.
For the very same reason.
(Score: 2) by dry on Tuesday March 13 2018, @04:27PM (3 children)
Happens accidentally too. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/03/self-domesticating-mice-suggest-some-animals-tamed-themselves-without-human [sciencemag.org]. Even get the white hairs and smaller heads.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @06:10PM (2 children)
The pale foxes are less aggressive. The tamer dogs had lighter fur and the more aggressive dogs had darker fur. The pale mice are also friendlier. In every case: the dark ones tend to be violent.
The same genetic mechanism operates in humans.
Now I'll burn for crimethink, because facts are unacceptable.
(Score: 2) by dry on Tuesday March 13 2018, @06:37PM (1 child)
So blondes are less aggressive then brunettes? It does go with the perception that blondes aren't as smart though.
While the Scandinavians do seem pretty peaceful now, they did have a quite a history of going a viking with violence rather then friendliness on their minds. And where do the gingers fit into this? Paler hair then brunettes, yet a reputation for a short temper.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @07:39PM
The perception is "not smart".
More correctly, it should be more like "not risk-averse enough" or "too trusting" or "too childlike" or "foolishly leftist" or "no street smarts". They are certainly smart, on average, if you consider academic pursuits.
I think you have to account for culture too. We can't really compare blonde vikings with non-blonde vikings.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @08:20AM (1 child)
A congental asshole gay is necessary male. Watch out, you just excluded the lesbian feminists.
Back to you, kurenai.tsubasa, if you still have a womyn-born-womyn axe to grind.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @01:39PM
Maybe when we get closer to election time. Especially if the Democrats fuck up again.