THE kings and queens of England may have murdered their closest kin to secure
the throne, but they still stayed true to a basic rule of evolutionary
biology.
The history of Britain between the 14th and 16th centuries is full of epic
tales of jealousy, intrigue and murder. To ensure their right to the throne
remained unchallenged, members of the royal family frequently murdered their
closest relatives. Both Henry IV and Henry VIII killed five cousins each.
John McCullough, an evolutionary biologist at Cambridge University, and his
colleagues at Indiana State University felt sure the lure of the ultimate prize…
