A study on twins, using Far Side cartoons, shows that
humour
is not genetically determined: (Telegraph)
The twins graded the cartoons on a scale of nought to 10 depending on how
amusing or terrible they found each one. If appreciation of cartoons had
a genetic factor, the correlation between identical twins should be much
stronger than between non-identical twins.
Dr Spector said: "There was a strong correlation but it didn't seem to matter
if they were identical or not... we found that between one third and two
thirds of the variability in reaction to the cartoons was due to shared
environmental effects such as family upbringing. Genetic factors did not
appear to contribute at all."
The finding will make sense to any parent who has failed to fathom the
appeal of Ali G, Vic Reeves or The Fast Show, or anyone under 25 who cannot
see the humour in the Goons, Tony Hancock or Monty Python. It could also
explain why, when famous acting families such as the McGanns, Redgraves,
Fiennes, Fondas and Arquettes are in plentiful supply, there are almost no
great comedy dynasties.