1 million people's genes reveal the heritability of the Big Five personality traits — and it's complicated
A huge analysis probes the genetics of personality, finding that the trait is much less straightforward than physical attributes like eye color.
A groundbreaking analysis of over 1.1 million people's genetics has revealed the heritability of the Big Five personality traits – extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness to experience, and neuroticism. The study, published in the journal Nature, found that no single gene dictates an individual's personality, but rather thousands of genes contribute tiny effects that are intertwined with environmental factors.
Researchers identified over 1,200 genes linked to these traits, but the most striking conclusion is that no single gene determines an individual's personality. Earlier studies suggested an estimated heritability of 5% to 15%, but this new research confirms those low numbers. Genetic sequencing technologies, particularly genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have enabled researchers to calculate gene influence with greater precision than twin studies.
The study's lead author, Michel Nivard from the University of Bristol, UK, noted that the genetic effects on personality are consistent within families as they are among unrelated individuals, ruling out simple social processes where parents directly influence their children's personality. However, the researchers found that the heritability of personality may be slightly underestimated due to the potential influence of extremely rare variants and the difficulty in controlling for confounding factors in GWAS.
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