Lab-coated eggheads claim they have isolated a gene that apparently codes for being a barking bossy-boots:

>A gene has been uncovered that may help to create born leaders.

The leadership gene, known as rs4950, is an inherited DNA sequence associated with people taking charge.

Scientists accept that leadership skills are also learned. But the gene may provide the vital push needed to make someone into a manager rather than a minion.

Researchers found the gene after analysing DNA samples from around 4,000 individuals and matching them to information about jobs and relationships.

Workplace supervisory roles were used as a measurement of leadership behaviour.

The study showed that a quarter of the observed variation in leadership traits between individuals could be explained by genetics.

Lead scientist Dr Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, from University College London, said: “We have identified a genotype, called rs4950, which appears to be associated with the passing of leadership ability down through generations.

“The conventional wisdom – that leadership is a skill – remains largely true, but we show it is also, in part, a genetic trait.”

The findings appear online today in the journal Leadership Quarterly.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/15/health-leadership-gene-dna-sequence_n_2479658.html

How very odd.

Why odd?

>>How very odd.

Ja, mein Fuhrette!

clicks heels

klop!

Born to lead? A twin design and genetic association study of leadership role occupancy

Jan-Emmanuel De Nevea, b, Slava Mikhaylova,Christopher T. Dawesc, Nicholas A. Christakisd, James H. Fowlere

Abstract

We address leadership emergence and the possibility that there is a partially innate predisposition to occupy a leadership role. Employing twin design methods on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we estimate the heritability of leadership role occupancy at 24%. Twin studies do not point to specific genes or neurological processes that might be involved. We therefore also conduct association analysis on the available genetic markers. The results show that leadership role occupancy is associated with rs4950, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) residing on a neuronal acetylcholine receptor gene (CHRNB3). We replicate this family-based genetic association result on an independent sample in the Framingham Heart Study. This is the first study to identify a specific genotype associated with the tendency to occupy a leadership position. The results suggest that what determines whether an individual occupies a leadership position is the complex product of genetic and environmental influences, with a particular role for rs4950.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0113/15012013-leadership-genetics

Born to lead? Leadership can be an inherited trait, study finds

Genetic differences are significantly associated with the likelihood that people take on managerial responsibilities, according to new research from UCL (University College London).

The study, published online in Leadership Quarterly, is the first to identify a specific DNA sequence associated with the tendency for individuals to occupy a leadership position. Using a large twin sample, the international research team, which included academics from Harvard, NYU, and the University of California, estimate that a quarter of the observed variation in leadership behaviour between individuals can be explained by genes passed down from their parents.

“We have identified a genotype, called rs4950, which appears to be associated with the passing of leadership ability down through generations,” said lead author Dr Jan-Emmanuel De Neve (UCL School of Public Policy). “The conventional wisdom – that leadership is a skill – remains largely true, but we show it is also, in part, a genetic trait.”

To find the genotype, Dr De Neve and his colleagues analysed data from two large-scale samples in the United States, available through the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) and the Framingham Heart Study.

They compared genetic samples of approximately 4,000 individuals with information about jobs and relationships, finding that in both surveys there was a significant association between rs4950 and leadership. Leadership behaviour was measured by determining whether or not individuals occupy supervisory roles in the workplace.

The team found that although acquiring a leadership position mostly depends on developing skills, inheriting the leadership trait can also play an important role.

Dr De Neve said: “As recent as last August, Professor John Antonakis, who is known for his work on leadership, posed the question: ‘is there a specific leadership gene?’

“This study allows us to answer yes – to an extent. Although leadership should still be thought of predominantly as a skill to be developed, genetics – in particular the rs4950 genotype – can also play a significant role in predicting who is more likely to occupy leadership roles.”

He added that more research was needed to understand the ways in which rs4950 interacted with other factors, such as a child’s learning environment, in the emergence of leadership.

Dr De Neve noted: “Our work also draws attention to the ethical issues surrounding the use of genetic tests for leadership selection and assessment, and that we should seriously consider expanding current protections against genetic discrimination in the labour market. Our main suggestion for practice is that this research may help in the identification of specific environmental factors that can help in the development of leadership skills.

“If we really want to understand leadership and its effect on organizational, institutional, economic and political outcomes, we must study both nature and nurture,” added Dr De Neve.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1048984312000811

from the paper:

5.2. Candidate genes

Research in behavioral genetics often starts with “candidate” genes that are known to influence behaviors or processes in the body that are related to the phenotype of interest. For leadership role occupancy and most other social behavior phenotypes, this means focusing on genes that affect brain development, neurotransmitter synthesis and reception, hormone regulation, and transcriptional factors (Benjamin et al., 2007 and Damberg et al., 2001). The particular selection of genes in Add Health were chosen because “hese candidate genes have been reported to be associated with individual differences in behavior related to mental health; are reported to be functional, exonic, in promoter regions, or affect gene expression; are expressed in the brain; and have prima facie involvement in neurotransmission” (Add Health Biomarker Team, 2007).

The dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) and dopamine D2 receptor TaqIA (DRD2) genes encode dopamine receptor subtypes that are activated by the neurotransmitter dopamine. Genetic variation in these genes has been associated with neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, and also the behavioral traits of novelty-seeking ( Benjamin et al., 1996 and Ebstein et al., 1996), extraversion (Eichhammer et al., 2005), and risk-taking (Dreber et al., 2009). Though doubt has been cast on the original association result between extraversion and the long alleles of the DRD4 exon III repeat genotype as subsequent replication attempts have often failed to corroborate this relationship (Munafò, Yalcin, Willis-Owen, & Flint, 2008).

The Dopamine Transporter gene (SLC63) encodes a protein in the membrane of neurons that allows for the re-uptake of dopamine that remains in the synaptic cleft between neurons. Genetic variation in the promotor region of this gene – that regulates the amount of protein produced – has been associated with a number of cognitive and neuropsychiatric deficits (Fuke et al., 2001).

The serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A410) encodes a transporter in the cell wall that absorbs excess serotonin into the pre-synaptic neuron in parts of the brain that influence mental states (Canli & Lesch, 2007). SLC6A4 has been studied for at least a decade and much is known about the way different versions of this gene influence transcription, metabolism, and signal transfers between neurons, all of which may influence personality. In particular, the less transcriptionally efficient alleles of this gene have been reported to moderate the influence of life stress on depression (Caspi et al., 2003); and the more transcriptionally efficient alleles have been linked to the selective processing of positive emotional stimuli (Fox, Ridgewell, & Ashwin, 2009) and subjective well-being ( De Neve, 2011 and De Neve et al,. (in press).). These genetic associations are tentative and require further replication before they can be considered anything more than suggestive.

The MAOA gene encodes monoamine oxidase A, an enzyme that degrades neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and epinephrine (adrenaline) in parts of the brain that influence cognitive ability and behavior. Genetic variation in MAOA has been associated with impulsivity ( McDermott et al., 2009, Meyer-Lindenberg et al., 2006 and Passamonti et al., 2006) and, more recently, with borrowing behavior (De Neve & Fowler, 2010).

The nicotine acetylcholine (nACh) receptors encoded by CHRNA6 and CHRNB3 are located throughout the central nervous system and are studied for their influence on impulsive behavior as they have been shown to modulate dopamine release in the midbrain ( Azam et al., 2002 and Wonnacott, 1997). Dawes and Loewen, 2010 report evidence for an association between the CHRNA6 gene and political behavior, suggesting that it is mediated by patience.

lead – yes.

but where?

i’ve often found the management types abysmal at actually getting anything productive done

management is about people management rather than productive work

at one place i worked at they gave a million dollars to the arts and introduced rafts of measures to “help” us, volumous OHS risk assessments. management types tend to concentrate on the trifling matters that often cause an enormous amount of grief to the people doing something that makes the money- the result?

constant injuries, terrble morale, stuff breaking down for no good reason (they couldn;‘t be arsed to make sure that they had enough forklifts to keep production going causing an entire process to stop for a substantial time. an increase in office staff and a decrease in people doing things (hence the breakdowns and morale).

in the end the management drive any productive business into the dirt under the guise of “improvements” – it is by no accident that so many business fall over.

hitler was classic management – he didn’t know the subject that keep the money flowing in, morale was terrible – he eventually drove the business into the ground because of his management practices.

Mining company Rio Tinto has announced the sudden resignation of its chief executive Tom Albanese.

Mr Albanese’s decision to stand down follows more than $13 billion worth of writedowns on the company’s aluminium assets and its coal division in Mozambique
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-17/rio-tinto-ceo-to-step-down/4470040

bone head

The finance world has expressed surprise at the announcement, but business commentator Tim Treadgold says Mr Albanese’s departure was inevitable.

“These guys always look good when they’re buying things and spending shareholders money, but they don’t look good when it comes time to earn profits off those investments and they simply haven’t been able to do that,” he said.

ah ha!!!!

exactly

look at billabong – its fucked

the management there decided to spend big by opening new stores a few years ago taking massive loans and ended up gutting the company, now tye are looking forn some new buyer to pay the debt off and let them run the company straight into ground all over again – lightning does strike twice.

mayeb some super fund will buy all this shit?

one thing that is a common denominator i find is lack of any organisation

my dream is to work for some large company and have some job where i can be left alone to work on my own projects at their expense

at one place i worked i was eyeing up some big effectively abandoned building they owned where i could set up some projects

wookiemeister said:

my dream is to work for some large company and have some job where i can be left alone to work on my own projects at their expense

been there, done that.

morrie said:

wookiemeister said:

my dream is to work for some large company and have some job where i can be left alone to work on my own projects at their expense

been there, done that.

when you realise that you are going nowhere in life you need to make sure you have a hobby to unleash hell on all of those who scorned your ideas

for hitler it was the nazi party

when you realise that you are going nowhere in life you need to make sure you have a hobby to unleash hell on all of those who scorned your ideas

Reply Quote View full thread

—-

So where do you see yourself in ten years?

tauto said:

when you realise that you are going nowhere in life you need to make sure you have a hobby to unleash hell on all of those who scorned your ideas

Reply Quote View full thread

—-

So where do you see yourself in ten years?

in the same situation if i’m lucky

in the near future i should be able to start manufacturing small things like vices, so far i’ve been hamstrung by lack of space in my own house because certain things aren’t allowed in the house

wookiemeister said:

tauto said:

when you realise that you are going nowhere in life you need to make sure you have a hobby to unleash hell on all of those who scorned your ideas

Reply Quote View full thread

—-

So where do you see yourself in ten years?

in the same situation if i’m lucky

in the near future i should be able to start manufacturing small things like vices, so far i’ve been hamstrung by lack of space in my own house because certain things aren’t allowed in the house

You mean, Vice President.

wookiemeister said:

in the near future i should be able to start manufacturing small things like vices, so far i’ve been hamstrung by lack of space in my own house because certain things aren’t allowed in the house

Make sure you keep her liquids up and she might not be so irrational.

morrie said:

wookiemeister said:

tauto said:

when you realise that you are going nowhere in life you need to make sure you have a hobby to unleash hell on all of those who scorned your ideas

Reply Quote View full thread

—-

So where do you see yourself in ten years?

in the same situation if i’m lucky

in the near future i should be able to start manufacturing small things like vices, so far i’ve been hamstrung by lack of space in my own house because certain things aren’t allowed in the house

You mean, Vice President.

unlikely

today i was explaining why some many components of one type machine i service are blowing up – because no one listens to me

wookiemeister said:

tauto said:

when you realise that you are going nowhere in life you need to make sure you have a hobby to unleash hell on all of those who scorned your ideas

Reply Quote View full thread

—-

So where do you see yourself in ten years?

in the same situation if i’m lucky

in the near future i should be able to start manufacturing small things like vices, so far i’ve been hamstrung by lack of space in my own house because certain things aren’t allowed in the house

——

Understandable ;)

Skunkworks said:

wookiemeister said:

in the near future i should be able to start manufacturing small things like vices, so far i’ve been hamstrung by lack of space in my own house because certain things aren’t allowed in the house

Make sure you keep her liquids up and she might not be so irrational.

well i normally immediately take this approach , when it rears its head – always on hot days

before you knock – try it – you’ll find that i am correct and have found the silver bullet. next time some argument seems to blow in from nowhere take my advice and see where it gets you.

tauto said:

wookiemeister said:

tauto said:

when you realise that you are going nowhere in life you need to make sure you have a hobby to unleash hell on all of those who scorned your ideas

Reply Quote View full thread

—-

So where do you see yourself in ten years?

in the same situation if i’m lucky

in the near future i should be able to start manufacturing small things like vices, so far i’ve been hamstrung by lack of space in my own house because certain things aren’t allowed in the house

——

Understandable ;)

i’ve got a lathe sat in a large crate behind me where i’m sitting now

hopefully this will be installed in the next month then things will really start cooking

There are Godwins (which this thread was from the start),

……. and then there are Wookifications….

I give this a 7/10 on Teh Woookster scale (which is logarithmic).

well the fuhrer in the title means someone got there before me