A new study recently showed identical twins sharing almost the same genes were found to have a more similar love of nature compared to fraternal twins sharing half their genes.
A Mail Online report specified that based on a study of twins, how much a person enjoys spending time in nature appears, partly, to be something he inherits from the genes of his parents.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore and the University of Queensland surveyed more than 1,100 pairs of adult twins in the United Kingdom.
Each of the twins was asked about "how urban their living environment was," their experience with nature, and their frequency of visits in places like private gardens and parks.
Twins' Behavior Towards Nature
Identical twins sharing almost all the same genes were more similarly inclined towards nature than fraternal twins, as earlier mentioned, half their genes.
In general, heritability varied between 46 percent for feelings about nature and 34 percent for frequency of visits to gardens, proposing that genetics plays a moderate role in this aspect.
Nonetheless, the researchers said that more than 50 percent of the differences between individuals were explained through environmental factors.
For instance, people who live in urban environments are inclined to have fewer encounters with nature, considering their limited access to gardens.
According to the study investigators, findings of the research published in PLOS Biology emphasize the importance of providing access to natural spaces in shaping, not to mention encouraging nature-seeking behavior.
Impact of Natural Spaces on Mental Well-Being
It has been found that spending time in natural spaces improves mental wellbeing, although people can experience the benefit from nature differently.
The research, involving participants from the TwinsUK registry, part of the most detailed study into twins worldwide, was undertaken by the University of Queensland's biologist Richard Fuller and his colleagues.
According to Fuller, they compared twins who had been raised together with those raised separately in an attempt to "demonstrate genetic heritability of two traits."
Such traits, the biologist explained, were how strongly the twins feel connected to nature and the amount of time an individual is spending in nature. Describing the result, he said they were "truly surprised" by what they found.
According to Fuller, depending on which characteristic a person looks at, such nature-loving behaviors were innate between 34 and 48 percent of the time.
Meaning there may be inheritable genetic differences among people's psychological association with natural environments and how they're experiencing them.
The results help explain why some people have an ardent desire compared to others to be in nature, the biologist concluded.
Strength of Genetic Factors on Nature Appreciation
The study investigators also discovered that the genetic factors' strength on nature appreciation seemed to drop with age, probably, the researchers mused, as people attain an extraordinary set of environmental circumstances.
According to Fuller, their results reinforced past findings that a person's environment is the predominant driver behind his enjoyment of nature.
However, the new information on genetics' role in humans' relationship with nature is such a substantial discovery, he elaborated.
According to Chia-Chen Chang, a behavioral scientist from the National University of Singapore and the lead paper author, the growing understanding of the benefits of nature is making improving access to natural settings growingly essential.
She said, "We know that more and more people" at present live in urban environments, and this is typically linked to more mental health conditions.
Such conditions, she added, include lower subjective wellbeing levels, a higher risk of psychiatric syndrome, and increased depression and anxiety, among others, a related Medical Xpress report specified.
Related information about the link between genes and environment is shown on Learn with Larissa's YouTube video below:
RELATED ARTICLE : Identical Twins Don't Share the Same DNA All The Time
Check out more news and information on Twins and Nature on Science Times.
