A Behavior-Changing Parasite
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite which makes it home in rodents. This particular parasite causes a behavioral change in which they have a decreased fear of cats. As part of the ecosystem, the reckless rodents are subsequently eaten by your furry felines. Unknowingly, the parasite is then transferred to the cats and that is when things get really interesting.
Toxoplasma gondii becomes embedded in its new host’s muscle and brain tissue. Cougars then kills the cats and wolves kill both the cougars and cats. As a result, wolves, specifically in Yellowstone National Park, become the ultimate hosts for the Toxoplasma gondii parasite.
So how does this particular parasite affect the actions of wolves? Much like the rodents, the wolves become much more aggressive and engage in risk-taking behavior.
A Ground-Breaking Study
Connor Meyer and Kira Cassidy, wildlife ecologists at the University of Montana studied the blood samples of 229 wolves. What they discovered was astonishing!!! Meyer said, “We got that result and we just open-mouth stared at each other. This is way bigger than we thought it would be.” Infected wolves were 11 times more likely to leave their birth families and 46 times more likely to become pack leaders!!! Their study was published in the November 24, 2022 edition of Communications Biology, an open access journal from Nature Portfolio publishing high-quality research, reviews and commentary in all areas of the biological sciences.
The Important Leadership Questions
So if wolves have a parasite and genetic condition which makes them 46 times more prone to leadership, does the same apply to humans? The study forces us to ask two age old questions. The first question is can anyone lead or are only certain people born with a special leadership gene? The second questions is does leadership happen by nature or nurture?
The fact is there are some people who would appear to be natural leaders. They have the charismatic personalities, big brains, giftedness, and an inclination towards leadership we wish we all have. But smart people never confuse inclination with identity. John Maxwell is correct, leadership is not a genetic birthrite, it is influence. Therefore, leadership can be caught and taught.
The older I’ve gotten the more I have come to realize that everyone is a leader because everyone has some level of influence. We don’t live in silos. Our lives are intertwined and we impact others. Also, if nothing else, we must practice the most difficult leadership of all – self-leadership.
Finally, people who identify as Christians have a responsibility to live their lives in such a way as to lead others to Christ.
Conclusion
Toxoplasma gondii appears to cause wolves to become leaders. Fortunately, human beings don’t require a parasite. We are all leaders. All it requires is accepting the responsibility that comes with our God-given influence and self-leadership.
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