What makes one person more generous than another? It could be in the genes

For generations, scientists and philosophers have debated what makes people altruistic. As 18th-century poet and satirist Alexander Pope famously wrote: “Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.” While it is now understood that generosity is a product of both nature and nurture, researchers are teasing apart just how much of a role genetics play, and how specific gene variations could affect one’s willingness to give – whether it’s dropping a few coins into a charity box, or grand gestures such as Facebook power couple Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan vowing this month to dedicate most of their wealth to the public good. (Globe & Mail)