With the new found support that the FosB gene controls the characteristics of nurturing, the ever so popular nature versus nurture controversy will be again revived with new ideas and changing insight. The basis of the controversy more or less argues whether our genetic makeup determines more of our fate than does our environmental surrounding. For years scientists, philosophers, and psychologists have expostulated one over the other in order to pursue the further investigation of future ethics. With the understanding that the ability to nurture young can be highly dependent on genetics, we can apply the situation to humans. Parents may not completely neglect their young, but may not necessarily care for them either.
Child abuse is an every day occurrence.
The closer we come to understanding the power of genetics the closer we will come to answering the question of fate versus free-will.