Replication and characterization of and genes on human behavior.
Heliyon 2017 ; 3: e00349.
Boutwell B, Hinds D, 23andMe Research Team, Tielbeek J, Ong KK, Day FR, Perry JRB
DOI : 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00349
PubMed ID : 28795158
PMCID : PMC5537199
URL : https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2405844017317346
Abstract
Progress identifying the genetic determinants of personality has historically been slow, with candidate gene studies and small-scale genome-wide association studies yielding few reproducible results. In the UK Biobank study, genetic variants in and were recently shown to influence risk taking behavior and irritability respectively, representing some of the first genomic loci to be associated with aspects of personality. We extend this observation by performing a personality "phenome-scan" across 16 traits in up to 140,487 participants from 23andMe for these two genes. Genome-wide heritability estimates for these traits ranged from 5-19%, with both and demonstrating significant effects on multiple personality types. These associations covered all aspects of the big five personality domains, including specific facet traits such as compliance, altruism, anxiety and activity/energy. This study both confirms and extends the original observations, highlighting the role of genetics in aspects of mental health and behavior.