Genetics of biologically based psychological differences

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2018 Apr 19;373(1744):20170162. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0162.

Abstract

In recent years, substantial effort has gone into disentangling the genetic contribution to individual differences in behaviour (such as personality and temperament traits). Heritability estimates from twin and family studies, and more recently using whole genome approaches, suggest a substantial genetic component to these traits. However, efforts to identify the genes that influence these traits have had relatively little success. Here, we review current work investigating the heritability of individual differences in behavioural traits and provide an overview of the results from genome-wide association analyses of these traits to date. In addition, we discuss the implications of these findings for the potential applications of Mendelian randomization.This article is part of the theme issue 'Diverse perspectives on diversity: multi-disciplinary approaches to taxonomies of individual differences'.

Keywords: GWAS; Mendelian randomization; behavioural traits; heritability; personality; temperament.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Genetic Heterogeneity*
  • Genetics, Population
  • Genome, Human
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Individuality
  • Inheritance Patterns*
  • Mendelian Randomization Analysis
  • Neuroticism*
  • Personality Disorders / diagnosis
  • Personality Disorders / genetics*
  • Personality Disorders / physiopathology
  • Personality Disorders / psychology
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable*