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Tight genes: Some people don't give to charity because they are lacking the generosity gene | the Daily Mail

Tight genes: Some people don't give to charity because they are lacking the generosity gene | the Daily Mail

The Scrooges of this world now have an excuse for holding on to their money.

Generosity is determined by our genes, according to scientists.

Research suggests that those with a variant of a certain gene are significantly more likely to give their money away.

To study the phenomenon, a game was created called The Dictator in which more than 200 online participants were each given £6.

The players could either keep it or give it to other players who remained anonymous.

They were not told to what use the money would be put in case it influenced their decisions.

After taking samples of the players' DNA code, it was found that those with a certain variation of a gene called AVPR1a were 50 per cent more likely to give the money away.

Dr Ariel Knafo, who led the research at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem said: "This is the first evidence, to my knowledge, for a relationship between DNA and altruism or generosity.

"This is a really exciting discovery. You often hear it said that people are generous by nature.

"Well, we now know that's because it is encoded into their genes. We don't know yet why some people have this gene variation or how many people have it."

AVPR1a affects generosity by allowing a hormone called arginine vasopressin to affect brain cells. More generous people have a longer section of the gene, called its promoter, which makes it more active.

In addition, those found to have the longer version of the gene were found to score higher in a psychological test of generosity and were more likely to believe in values such as world peace, social justice and protecting the environment.

The study is published in the journal Genes, Brain and Behaviour. A lecturer in psychology at Buckinghamshire University, Dr George Fieldman, said there was good evidence that generosity could be inherited.

As altruism and good deeds promote social bonding, they lead to greater social success as others were more likely to reciprocate them.

He said: "People who have this generosity gene will tend to be good team players at work. They are generous with their time and the help they give to colleagues.

"As a result, they will be more successful in society. And for humans, social success is essential.

"It goes back to when man was a hunter-gatherer. Early men discovered that by working together they could hunt and kill more animals, and so the gene has evolved.

"If you work well as part of a team, there is a good chance you are also a generous person."

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