Personality and genes: remarks from a biological perspective

Abstract

Although there is no doubt that genes' functions influence human personality, years of studies provided no clear picture on regulation of particular traits by specific genes. In this article, an overview of the complexity of the system of genetic control of personality is presented, and the level of complications of biological processes operating in this system is underlined. The methodology of studies devoted to determine effects of genes on personality traits is discussed, and limitations of various methods in such studies are indicated. Finally, suggestions for further research are listed and commented on. It is likely that to increase the level of our understanding of genetic mechanisms that modulate human personality, researchers conducting further studies will have to focus on using large sample sizes, performing independent replications, considering experiments on animal models, integrating cross-cultural data and epigenetic measures, and performing interdisciplinary experiments which combine methods of various disciplines, such as biology and psychology. review paper Grzegorz WęgrzynDepartment of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, PolandPersonality and genes 134 current issues in personality psychology background

Roles of the Oxytocin Receptor (OXTR) in Human Diseases

“…Studies on genetic and biochemical bases of mental and personality disorders are especially difficult and complicated due to the enormous complexity of both regulatory processes occurring in the central nervous system and genetic networks involved in these interactions [ 31 , 32 ]. The production and secretion regulation of OXT, as well as the expression of the OXTR gene in different parts of the brain and in different organs, have been recently reviewed [ 33 ].…”