New empathy gene

 

A new geneassociated with our ability to be empathetic has been identified. This new empathy gene is associated with how a person's oxytocin receptors function. Oxytocin is a hormone that is often associated with nurturing and love because it plays a large role in bonding, trust, and empathy. Oxytocin levels largely influx during orgasm and childbirth which helps form the bonds of lovers and families. This new research shows that there are three variants of the gene: those with the GG gene variant tend to be more empathetic and social whereas those who have at least one version of A_ or even two AA tend to be less empathetic and have more mental issues such as autism.

Due to the studies small original sample size many contemporary geneticists are criticizing the findings calling them useless in such a small sample size. On the other hand the lead author of the article, Aleksandr Kogan of the University of Toronto explains that he thinks the findings are accurate due to the fact that there have been dozens of studies on this gene over the last decade and the findings all seem to be consistent with empathy. He goes on to furthur state that these should be treated as preliminary findings and that more work should be done in this area. I think this is an interesting discovery because it furthur extends the idea that we as human beings are influenced by both our genetics and our environment and this just shows how we are predisposed to being a certain way through our genetics but how we will turn out ultimately relies on our environment.

article link: http://healthland.time.com/2011/11/17/telltale-signs-youve-got-the-love-hormone-gene/#more-47134

image link: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=empathy&hl=en&biw=1031&bih=771&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=hj5AjsD_MME3jM:&imgrefurl=http://www.themindovermatter.com/333/empathy-walking-borrowed-shoes/&docid=BG_kI_i6EWsInM&imgurl=http://www.themindovermatter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/empathy.gif&w=153&h=151&ei=HKPJTuPpO8bl0QGM0pDwDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=838&vpy=228&dur=4880&hovh=120&hovw=122&tx=104&ty=75&sig=106633486466244511688&page=1&tbnh=120&tbnw=122&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0