Do our genes make us popular?

[zelta gaisma]

Source: Scientific America

Always the last one picked for kickball? Never get invites to the hottest parties? Blame Mom and Dad.

That's right, a new study says genes may influence whether or not you're popular. But DNA, or genetic material, shapes more than popularity, according to the research published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It may also play a role in the number of friends we have – and whether we're integral or insignificant members of a social group.

Researchers from Harvard University and the University of California, San Diego found that genes may be responsible for 46 percent of the variation (or difference) in how popular we are versus other people. Genetics exerts a similar effect on people's varying degrees of connectivity (for example, one person might know many of their friends' pals, but another person may not know any of their friends' other buddies.) And DNA has a significant, but lesser influence, on the difference between where one or another of us is located in a social network.

Read more: http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=do-our-genes-make-us-popular--or-no-2009-01-26

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Blast you mom and dad!!! I knew it wasn't my fault I wasn't Prom Queen...oh yeah I skipped the Prom for that Party..oops

[HopeHoops]

1. Well, in high school it was Levi, Lee, Gloria Vanderbilt and some other brand

Yeah, yeah, the old "how do you make a hormone" joke came to mind.

[FrenchieCat]

2. I've always been quite popular...and my genes even moreso.

[EFerrari]

3. I would bet that if your DNA selects empathy and curiosity, you'd be popular

or at least, attractive to people. I just watched Max Kennedy (RFK's son) last night talking about his book. He has both empathy and curiosity in spades just like a lot of the Kennedys do. I don't know what else he "has" but those two qualities made me want to listen to what he had to say and to think how like his father he is even if he was only a toddler when RFK was assassinated. :shrug:

[dipsydoodle]

4. Only if

you wear worn out Levis ? :shrug:

[acmavm]

5. You probably had more fun at the party. I went to many a prom. Why, I

don't know. I just never had the heart to tell whoever I was seeing that I didn't want to do that stuff. But after the prom was a whole other deal. That I enjoyed!

[buckrogers1965]

6. Can be popular if I work at it.

Often it is just too much effort. And I do need down time alone to "recharge" after being sociable.

[TankLV]

7. It depends on how tight they are, and what you have to show underneath...

Sometimes buldges can be VERY attractive...!!!