Today being US Independence Day, it brought to mind the role of biology in history. Now I am not talking about human controlled biology (Condoms and Mr & Mrs Hitler etc) but the more subtle effects of genetic illnesses. Now whether or not George III had porphyria is debatable (and probably cannot be proved) but if he did then a simple point mutation in one of the 8 enzymes that are involved in haem production (exactly which one I suspect will never be demostrated) probably was involved and caused his illnesses which, of course, included mental problems and possibly clouded his judgement, even during those parts of his life between acute attacks of his illness.
Certainly George III went against his minister's - especially Lord North's - advice concerning the treatment of the colonists and possibly prolonged the war.
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