Scientists say genes may be the reason you're naughty or nice

In a pathbreaking study, scientists have discovered a mathematical model of predicting the likelihood of an individual being nasty or nice. By studying the behaviour of various colony-living creatures, such as bees, they are now better able to explain why some are likely to take on a more altruistic mode of functioning--where they tend to look out for the good of their neighbours--while others are content living off other creatures and exploiting them.

The model created by Dr Sasha Dall from the University of Exeter, along with a group of international researchers, took into account the environmental factors as well as genetic traits that can help predict an individual’s behavioural bent.

Depending on the genetic variations creatures are born with, they found that individuals are pre-programmed with instructions on how to behave, therefore determining their response--good or adverse--to a given situation.

Until now, scientists have been unable to fully explain how this ‘genetic polymorphism’ plays into the behaviour of individuals. "Social evolution theory hasn't previously addressed genetic polymorphism," said Professor Olof Leimar of Stockholm University, the lead author for the study. "We have developed a model that allows us to explore this within a general framework alongside other behavioural influences.”

The study, Genes as Cues of Relatedness and Social Evolution in Heterogeneous Environments, is published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology.