Letters from the May 5, 2007, issue of Science News
By Science News
Mere kats?
“Science behind the Soap Opera” (SN: 3/3/07, p. 138) shows that meerkats bear an uncanny resemblance to human beings. We, too, have an innate sense of responsibility for our group and individually commit acts of unspeakable violence.
John Hagerhorst
Frederick, Md.
Just a dram
“Natural-Born Addicts: Brain differences may herald drug addiction” (SN: 3/3/07, p. 133) describes an elegant study. I found the 7 percent addiction-susceptible figure interestingly similar to the 10 percent of people who drink alcohol who become addicted. I wonder if similar percentages of other species are impulsive and vulnerable.