Out of about 6,000 genes, 987 were shown to be affected. Scientist with no knowledge of the monkey's position in the group could guess the status with an up to 80% accuracy just by the effect on their genes. The changes however were not permanent. When social status was rebounded the genes rapidly changed their expressions.
The implications of this study seem to show that health can be determined by social status and not vice versa. Though with humans the link between genes and our complex society are harder to discover.
Maybe it is related to the stress the monkies were put under when their social status changed. Monkies that are lower in status don't get treated as wel as those higher up. this goes for grooming and eating order. Makes sense that fight or flight responces may change gene expression.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was sort of funny because it sort of emulates human behavior. Better looking and more fit individuals attract more attention by the opposite sex, and tend to create more positive feelings upon meeting the person. I remember reading studies done that based first impressions based on the looks of the person, and it found that people tend to be more socially acceptable to better looking, more fit individuals than those that are uglier, fatter, smellier, etc.
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