Nature vs. nurture - what twin studies mean for economics

2024-12-25 13:44:06 source:lotradecoin exclusive trader benefits category:My

Note: This episode originally ran in 2019.

Twins are used to fielding all sorts of questions, like "Can you read each other's minds?" or "Can you feel each other's pain?" Two of our Planet Money reporters are twins, and they have heard them all.

But it's not just strangers on the street who are fascinated by twins. Scientists have been studying twins since the 1800s, trying to get at one of humanity's biggest questions: How much of what we do and how we are is encoded in our genes? The answer to this has all kinds of implications, for everything from healthcare to education, criminal justice and government spending.

Today on the show, we look at the history of twin studies. We ask what decades of studying twins has taught us. We look back at a twin study that asked whether genes influence antisocial behavior and rule-breaking. One of our reporters was a subject in it. And we find out: are twin studies still important for science?

Our show today was hosted by Sally Helm and Karen Duffin. It was produced by Darian Woods and Nick Fountain. It was edited by Bryant Urstadt.

Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

Always free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, NPR One or anywhere you get podcasts.

Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.

Music: "Guinguette", "Holy Science" and "Sun Run."

More:My

Recommend

Our 12 favorites moments of 2024

We check out a lot of things in a given year: Lots of movies, TV shows, and music. Today, we are hig

Fourth of July flight delays, cancellations contributing to summer travel woes

Travelers across the country are left frustrated as over 35,000 flight delays and 7,000 cancellation

19 Father's Day Gift Ideas for Your Husband That He'll Actually Love

We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like