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Scientists Find 'Liberal Gene'
NBC News 7 ^ | Thursday, Oct 28, 2010 | Eric S. Page

Posted on 08/26/2012 6:33:19 PM PDT by maddog55

Researchers have determined that genetics could matter when it comes to some adults' political leanings.

According to scientists at UC San Diego and Harvard University, "ideology is affected not just by social factors, but also by a dopamine receptor gene called DRD4." That and how many friends you had during high school.

The study was led by UCSD's James Fowler and focused on 2,000 subjects from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Scientists matched the subjects' genetic information with "maps" of their social networks. According to researchers, they determined that people "with a specific variant of the DRD4 gene were more likely to be liberal as adults." However, the, subjects were only more likely to have leanings to the left if they were also socially active during adolescence.

"It is the crucial interaction of two factors -- the genetic predisposition and the environmental condition of having many friends in adolescence -- that is associated with being more liberal,” according to the study.

"These findings suggest that political affiliation is not based solely on the kind of social environment people experience,” said Fowler, who is a professor of political science and medical genetics.

The researchers also said their findings held true no matter what the ethnicity, culture, sex or age of the subjects were.

Source: Scientists Find 'Liberal Gene' | NBC 7 San Diego


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
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To: maddog55

The same study was previously - some years ago - reported out as a new study, with the same claims.

First off, in a small sample of only 2,000 people, there are a ton of variables that could provide equal correlation to “being Liberal” as was surmised for the two factors cited b the researchers. Like, you could look at education for starters.


21 posted on 08/26/2012 7:20:49 PM PDT by Wuli
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To: maddog55

is the liberal gene centered around the anus?


22 posted on 08/26/2012 7:23:09 PM PDT by max americana (Make the world a better place by punching a liberal in the face)
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To: maddog55

With Planned Parenthood’s history of promoting eugenics, this does not portend well if Obama is re-elected.


23 posted on 08/26/2012 7:24:04 PM PDT by caper gal 1
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To: maddog55

LOL.. What a crock this “finding” is!


24 posted on 08/26/2012 7:32:17 PM PDT by DivineMomentsOfTruth ("Give me Liberty or I'll stand up and get it for myself!")
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To: maddog55

I always thought it was a genetic malady - being born with “headupbutt” disease.


25 posted on 08/26/2012 7:32:32 PM PDT by Dapper 26
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To: Slyfox

For sake of discussion, let’s say this study is accurate. Not saying it is, let’s just suppose for a moment.

The fact that 2 siblings could have been formed, and born, with the defective gene, is a reasonable possibility. They also might have been born with a predisposition for a certain cancer. Just because a family member gets cancer doesn’t mean every family member will.

That said, I predict that a ‘liberal’ gene will, in fact, be found. And long, long before they find any sort of faggot gene.

Liberalism doesn’t just ‘happen’ to most people, it’s a defect, and the underlying cause of that defect will be found to be genetic.


26 posted on 08/26/2012 7:34:38 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (Liberals, at their core, are aggressive & dangerous to everyone around them,)
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To: max americana
Scientist doing research:


27 posted on 08/26/2012 7:37:00 PM PDT by eartrumpet
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To: lbryce
I'd say it's an absolutely fake. Since logic, rationale, level-headedness are not liberal characteristics, and then you've got the Russian Black Book which documents deaths, murder of up to 90 million people and we're not even talking about any sort of misery index or the trillions in natural resources that were destroyed for political reasons, well of course someone is going to trot out some poor maligned gene in which to blame it all on.
It's a tough nut to crack to go it alone.

I think you're right. Did people who became conservative have a gene removed? No, I think the adolescent influence (like Obama had) mentioned in the article is what caused their liberalism. I was a liberal, as well as most of my family, but when we became Christians and read God's word, we started following God's laws, then became republicans. Besides we do not want liberals to say we are missing a gene so they can have us committed, when in reality they are missing conscience and a brain.

28 posted on 08/26/2012 7:48:34 PM PDT by Linda Frances (Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness)
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To: maddog55

Does this mean that a test could be developed, and potential liberals aborted?

Just askin’.


29 posted on 08/26/2012 7:56:23 PM PDT by RobinOfKingston (The instinct toward liberalism is located in the part of the brain called the rectal lobe.)
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To: tallyhoe

It can be removed with another million dollar grant from the government. They will find the opposite results for that much money..


30 posted on 08/26/2012 8:09:57 PM PDT by goat granny
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To: Steely Tom

yeah me too, I had friends, got elected to stuff etc, this “study” is dumb


31 posted on 08/26/2012 8:59:00 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: maddog55

Tell Me More, and then tell me how to kill it!

32 posted on 08/26/2012 9:21:26 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: tallyhoe
Now we know how this started...

The Eugenics Wars Pictures, Images and Photos

33 posted on 08/26/2012 9:23:10 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: maddog55

“but also by a dopamine receptor gene “

That’s “dopamine” with the emphasis on “dope”.


34 posted on 08/26/2012 9:25:17 PM PDT by ZULU (See: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=D9vQt6IXXaM&hd)
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To: maddog55
Scientists Find 'Liberal Gene'

Excellent! All voters should now be scanned for DRD4, and if it's found, they can't vote anymore.

Peace, freedom, prosperity, justice, kindness, sanity, goodwill, morality, intelligence and Every Good Thing at last!

35 posted on 08/26/2012 9:49:28 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: LostInBayport

Hate to burst your bubble, but that’s not what “variant” means in this case. There would be several different possible configurations of nucleotide pairs, all “normal”, of the DRD4 gene, and one particular one predisposes to liberalism. Just like there are different “variants” of eye color etc (though yes, that is governed by more than one gene).

If it weren’t a “normal” configuration of the gene, it would be termed “aberration”.


36 posted on 08/26/2012 10:55:35 PM PDT by Little Pig (Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.)
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To: goat granny

I think a 50 cent 45 bullet would do the trick!!!


37 posted on 08/27/2012 12:21:52 AM PDT by tallyhoe
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To: MagUSNRET

I don’t know about genetics. I do notice that Volvo and Prius drivers tend to be liberal. Drivers with “coexist” stickers on their vehicles almost certainly are liberals.


38 posted on 08/27/2012 3:09:17 AM PDT by Soul of the South
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To: maddog55
and the environmental condition of having many friends in adolescence

The environmental condition of public school education biased towards a liberal worldview (diversity training in homosexual appreciation, global warming scares, selective redaction of Democrat support for Jim Crow laws/segregation/opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Bill...) combined with a desire to "be liked".

The more "having a lot of friends" is established as a goal, the more mushy you may become to be "accepted". Go with the herd. Be a lemming or a sheep.

39 posted on 08/27/2012 9:50:51 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Only Obama put a dog on the roof of his mouth. Dogs are friends, not food.)
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