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The researchers found a common ancestor of many different species that all conduct non-functional kissing. The surprising thing about the research is that it specifically implies kissing is not cultural!

Do hunter gatherers kiss near-universally? I think that would answer the question of whether it is nature or nurture.

I’m allowing for it to be suppressed at times by culture, but I would expect the instinctive behavior to win the majority of the time unless the instinctive behavior is somehow harmful in an environment different from the organism’s classic environment.

Except that as the article says many animals kiss, not just humans.

Really funny on a farm when you see young calves "kissing" i.e. stick their noses/mouths together and lick each other's noses.

No, kisses tingle, even completely emotionless ones. Lips have a lot of nerve endings.