Researchers link over 1,200 genetic variants to five personality traits

Researchers have identified 1,260 genetic variants associated with five major personality traits, UA.NEWS reported. The study analysed extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. Findings were published in the journal Nature. [1]

The research team combined data from 46 research groups, incorporating human sample sizes ranging from 611,000 to 1.14 million people depending on the trait. Common genetic variants explained approximately 5% to 9% of the differences in measured personality traits across individuals. [1]

Out of the 1,260 identified variants, 824 are located in genomic regions that had not previously been linked to those specific personality traits. Researchers noted that the findings do not indicate the existence of a single gene responsible for sociability. [1]

Personality psychology examines how individual personalities develop and how psychological forces create variation among people. It focuses on explaining mental processes, describing personality, and documenting individual differences in daily functioning. [2]