Note: This was originally posted on 10/29/04 but for some
reason did not get to the ng. Since it is clearly pertinent
to evolution, I suspect I have a glitch in my Outlook
Express program. AC 11/01

I came across this idea in a SF book by either Wil McCarthy
or Jack McDevitt (don't remember) but it was just mentioned
in passing. Thinking about it, I feel one or more genes for
social dominance factors might explain quite a bit about how
great leaders come to be leaders. Presumably, such a gene or
gene complex would code for one or more proteins that lead
to dominance pheromones, or perhaps,  just a complex of
other factors (a deep, resonant voice might be a simple
example, demagoguery might be another--but there could be
zillions of subtle or not-so-subtle actions like this that
lead to dominating
behavior and leadership. [Also explains why I never ever got
to speak much at action meetings! :) ] It's a captivating
idea. If true, great leaders are truly born, not made!

AIUI, ants and bees and such use various pheromones
extensively, not for just simple primitive communication and
sex etc., but to also help organize their societies into
various classes. Why shouldn't humans also have such an
analogous genetic
program/mandate?
.....tonyC

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