SCIENTISTS are starting to question whether being able to crack a good joke runs in the family, according to new research.

In the first ever study to look at the influence of genes and the environment on comedic abilities, scientists compared over a thousand twins by asking them to rate their own humour and create funny captions for cartoons.

The new findings, published in the journal ‘Twin Research and Human Genetics’, revealed that the scores people gave their own humour were influenced by both inherited and environmental factors.

However, when their captions were judged independently, there was no evidence that they inherited their humorous talents. Instead, all individual differences were shaped by their environment, though a small genetic effect could not be ruled out.

The results suggest that the reasons why you are funny or your jokes bomb may be more complex and difficult to assess than other cognitive abilities.

It could also help explain the rarity of comedy duos from the same family – such as the Chuckle Brothers or the Marx Brothers – compared to actors, musicians or writers.

Lead author of the study, Dr Gil Greengross from the Psychology Department at Aberystwyth University, said: “Despite humour’s importance, relatively little is known about how we develop our sense of humour or why one sibling can be funny and another cannot. Our study’s finding that these talents are not inherited is surprising, as it contradicts most research on the heritability of cognitive abilities such as creativity and mathematical skills. So, it is really fascinating. But, since this is the first study of its kind, these results should be interpreted with caution.

“Telling a joke may seem simple but having a good sense of humour is a complex and unique trait influenced by numerous psychological attributes and personality characteristics. It varies across different social contexts, like when going on a date or entertaining. This may explain why, Chuckle and Marx Brothers aside, there are few successful comedians from the same immediate family.

“What is exciting about this research is it begs the question: if our sense of humour is not handed down from our parents but comes from our environment, what is it precisely that makes us funny?”

The findings also have implications for how scientists think about humour’s role in evolution and even dating.

Dr Greengross added: “These early findings also challenge the widely accepted evolutionary basis of humour. A great sense of humour can help ease tension in dangerous situations, foster cooperation, break down interpersonal barriers, and attract mates—all of which enhance survival and reproduction.

“There are also intriguing dating and mating aspects to this. Previous research has shown that women prioritise comedic talents in a partner more than do men, whereas men value a women’s ability to appreciate their humour. Men experience stronger selection pressure to be funny to impress women, leading to men having slightly higher humour ability, on average—a finding supported by our study. Furthermore, men rated themselves as funnier than women, likely reflecting an awareness of humour’s importance in female mate choice.”

The research team is now conducting further studies to test the findings with different sample groups of twins.

A TRIO of ornamental coal trucks could soon be installed in the heart of Saundersfoot to honour the village’s historic links to the coal-mining industry.

The replica trucks—made from cast iron and fibreglass—are proposed for a spot at the front of the Sensory Gardens, close to the former Coal Office which now houses part of the harbour’s heritage display.

Saundersfoot flourished in the 19th century as a port exporting anthracite from local mines. It was once claimed that Queen Victoria insisted only Saundersfoot coal be used to power her Royal Yacht.

“This village owes its existence to the coal trade,” said Councillor Chris Williams, who represents Saundersfoot South and is chairing the group behind the plans. “Many people don’t realise how vital the mining industry was to the development of Saundersfoot.”

The display would be paid for and maintained by the Saundersfoot Festivities Committee, which runs events such as the popular New Year’s Day Swim and SaundersFest. The community council would look after the surrounding plants and landscaping, and handle the insurance.

As well as commemorating the village’s industrial past, the project would help smarten up the garden area, Cllr Williams added.

The idea has won widespread support locally, with more than 93 per cent of over 200 respondents to an online poll backing the proposal. A public consultation is currently under way and is due to end on July 20, when the community council will decide whether to take the next step and apply for planning permission.

Photo caption:

Proposed site – the coal trucks would sit at the front of the Sensory Gardens (Pic: Saundersfoot Community Council).

Patients say they were removed without warning, left in pain, or forgotten entirely – now they want answers

A WAVE of testimony from Pembrokeshire patients has revealed the true scale of the NHS waiting list crisis, with more than 100 people coming forward in just a few days to share stories of lost letters, cancelled appointments, and being removed from hospital care without ever being told.

Following a public appeal by The Pembrokeshire Herald, readers responded in force — describing what they call a “shambolic” system, in which patients are being quietly dropped from waiting lists, given incorrect or late information, and forced to chase departments that never answer the phone.

Letters never arrived — then the appointment was gone

One mother told the Herald she only discovered her young son had been removed from a waiting list for surgery after chasing a non-existent appointment.

“We never received the original letter. Then we turned up for a new date, only to be told it had been cancelled — but no one told us,” she said. “Later, they told me he’d been removed from the list for missing appointments we never knew about.”

In another case, a mother of a child with a rare genetic condition said her daughter was due annual dermatology reviews — but after a cancellation in 2023, she heard nothing for months. In February this year, she received a letter stating her daughter had missed an appointment and was being removed. She said: “We never got the original appointment, and when we finally got one for April, it was cancelled too. We’ve heard nothing since.”

Voicemail chaos and ‘no way to contact anyone’

A recurring theme in the responses was departments not answering their phones, and voicemail systems that lead nowhere.

One woman, removed from a physio course after a single missed session, said: “I rang three times that day, left a full message explaining I was unwell, but no one ever rang me back. Then a letter came saying I’d been removed from the course. I tried ringing again — just voicemail. After the second time, I gave up.”

In another case, a patient who had been waiting for diabetic retinopathy screening since before Covid told us: “I’ve phoned multiple times over three years. Every time they say they’ll send an appointment. I’ve given up.”

One former patient said he was moved to the back of the list after a missed telephone consultation — even though the doctor rang an hour early, and never called again.

GP failures and missed referrals

Many readers raised concerns about general practice as well as hospitals, claiming referrals were never sent or followed up.

One woman wrote: “If my old GP had referred me straight away, I wouldn’t be in the state I am now. As soon as I changed surgeries, I was seen — but by then the damage was done. My life’s been ruined.”

Another reader commented that her father never got the treatment he needed, and believes that delays in referrals contributed to his death.

Transport cancellations and “cheating the system”

Several readers also raised concerns about non-emergency ambulance transport being cancelled at short notice, leaving vulnerable patients unable to attend appointments.

One woman said: “My dad has had his transport cancelled the night before appointments. We had no backup, and he missed it.”

Another reader wrote: “It’s all about stats. They remove people from the list, say they’ve missed appointments, and it makes the waiting time numbers look better. It’s cheating, plain and simple.”

Health board responds — but no figures yet

Hywel Dda University Health Board has responded to the Herald’s request for comment, stating it follows strict national protocols and that any patient removed in error will be reinstated at their original place on the list.

In a statement, Director of Operational Planning and Performance Keith Jones said: “We make every effort to send appointment letters in a timely manner and it is part of our procedure to phone a patient should we need to see them at short notice or to cancel appointments.

We have received feedback from some patients of incidences where appointment letters have not been received in a timely manner. We are reviewing the factors which may lead to late receipt of appointment letters and will implement any necessary improvements.”

The health board also promotes a digital system, Hywel Dda Post, for accessing appointment details online. However, patients have reported issues with this too — particularly those without smartphones or digital literacy.

The board was unable to provide any figures on how many patients have been removed from waiting lists over the last five years and advised the Herald to submit a Freedom of Information request, which has now been done.

Public anger growing

With more than 100 people coming forward in less than 48 hours, public anger is mounting. Many say they are being pushed toward private treatment, or simply left to suffer for years.

“I’ve been in chronic pain for over a decade waiting for three surgeries,” one woman wrote. “I’ve lost 11 years of my life.”

Another added: “It’s not just the health board. Welsh Labour has failed us for years. They have money for road signs and tree projects abroad — but not for our surgeries.”

What’s next?

The Herald will continue to investigate this issue and publish further updates once the FOI response is received.

We are compiling a formal submission to both the Health Board and the Welsh Government, including anonymised patient testimonies, to call for a public explanation of how waiting lists are managed — and how many patients have been quietly removed.

If you or a family member has experienced anything similar — missed letters, unexplained removals, transport cancellations, or GP referral failures — you can contact us in confidence at:

📧 [email protected]