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Backseat Driver: It's in the genes - boy monkeys prefer cars

My sister always refers to it as "the truck gene." Having raised a daughter and a son, she observed that little boys seem to have a special gene that makes them want to play with trucks once they reach a certain age.

Now it seems there may be scientific evidence to support her theory, according to New Scientist. Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta, Georgia, found that male rhesus monkeys preferred playing with cars.

The researchers studied 11 male and 23 female rhesus monkeys and found that in general the males preferred to play with wheeled toys, such as dumper trucks, over plush dolls, while female monkeys played with both kinds of toys.

So it seems that when it comes to cars, nature rules. (Unless my nephew is a monkey!)

- Peter C.T. Elsworth

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:38 PM to commentary | Permalink

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