As the worried young couple sat on a couch in their genetic counseling session, it was the husband who spoke first.
"I know we should have thought of this before we decided to have children. Heck, I know we should've gone for genetic testing before we even went on our first date. But what's done is done. We're in love and we're expecting a baby."
And here, he reached over to pat his wife's obviously pregnant abdomen. "Both of us have parents who are bankers. We don't want to pass that horrible legacy onto our offspring. Doctor....can you offer us any hope?"
The doctor leaned forward, looked down at her folded hands and sighed. Finally, she looked up.
"I won't kid you. It's not going to be easy. As you know, researchers at Northwestern University have published a study that links the willingness to make risky financial investments with a very specific genetic trait."
"They gave students real money to invest, giving each a choice between a risky and a non-risky investment. Some of the investments would yield a return of just 3 percent, while the more risky ones were 10 or 20 percent.
"Then the students were each given $15 to invest in a series of 96 choices over 90 minutes. They were not told how their money was doing until the very end, when researchers also swabbed their saliva for DNA testing.
"Surprise, surprise, they found there apparently is a genetic marker for financial risk-taking: The subjects who carry one version of the DRD4 gene put about 25 percent more in risky investments.
"They have something called a 7-repeat allele of that gene, and it has been linked to novelty-seeking behavior," she said.
Then she took a deep breath.
"And you two both carry that genetic marker."
"I should have known it when you asked me to go sky-diving for our first date!" said the wife, bursting into tears.
"Well, how about your bright suggestion for dinner afterward: steak tartare and Caesar salad with dressing that contained raw eggs?" the husband snarled. "Who was the risk-taker then, eh?"
"Now, now," said the counselor. "We're not here to dwell on issues around the concept of blame. We're not here to rearview mirror. We're hear to go forward. You're pregnant. You're going to be bringing another life into the world. The question is: How can you help that little life make wise choices?
"Fortunately, your little one will grow up in a world when Wall Streeters will no longer be revered. Their huge bonuses will be a thing of distant memory. The risk-taking behavior they so cavalierly exhibited will neither be admired nor rewarded.
"And remember, the researchers estimate genes account for less than 30 percent of our behavior, so look at it this way: As parents, you'll have complete control over the other 70 percent.
"You'll be able to teach him how to manage money responsibly. You know, things like making the little guy run a lemonade stand. Or not giving in when he whines for an advance on his allowance.
"And never-- I repeat, never -- buy him Monopoly. With his genes, that little paper money will be the equivalent of crack to him."