Rare genetic illnesses and the sweep of history

Genetics’ impact on the sweep of world history: This painting is mad King George III of the UK, who has forcibly removed from power both by the American colonists (yes, that King George) and later by the British themselves (through regency) after he quite obviously insane. Continuing on our earlier Halloween post of the very real Vlad III Dracula of Transylvania, it is suspected that King George’s illness was caused by the same hereditary porphyria, a recessive genetic illness rare among the common populace but more common in inbred noble and royal families that causes vampire-like symptoms (see our earlier post). King George (also prince-elector of Hannover and the Holy Roman Empire — he held a lot of titles for a crazy person) presumably had a much milder case or porphyria than Vlad III Dracula, as there are no accounts of blood drinking and it is not even certain he had this disease or perhaps other rare genetic illnesses.

Attempts to obtain King George III’s DNA to test for the disease have been unsuccessful. However, it has been confirmed through DNA testing that some of his direct descendants did have the rare disease, making it much more likely George III (Wikipedia) was indeed a sufferer. (Like Vlad III, also no problems seeing his reflection in the mirror, however.)

Monarchy, or at least limited monarchy, had previously been (and still is) seen as a source of stability. However, it seems King George’s bad case of inbred genetic illnesses seems to have helped convince the American revolutionaries that government was too important to be placed in the hands of one person. Democracy or a republic were much better solutions. Here we see the impact of genetics and genetic illnesses on the sweep of world history.

Today, George III might have obtained a personal genetics analysis from firms like @23andme or competitors. He would have learned of his genetic bad luck, and been able to devise treatments or make earlier arrangements for a regency, and perhaps today be held in higher esteem. He would have learned about any rare genetic illnesses he had, and been able to make better decisions through data.

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