Toddler temperament is linked to common DNA variations, large genetic study finds
Why do some toddlers charge into a room of strangers while others hang back? A study of tens of thousands of children links early temperament to common DNA variations that overlap with those tied to ADHD and autism.
A comprehensive genetic study published in Nature Human Behaviour has uncovered a link between common DNA variations and the temperament of toddlers. The research, conducted by an international team of scientists, examined the genomes of thousands of European children during their second and third years of life. The findings indicate that variations in DNA account for about 15% of the differences in shyness, 10% in activity, 7% in emotionality, and 3% in sociability among toddlers.
These early temperament traits, which include how easily and intensely a child experiences negative feelings, physical energy and movement tempo, feeling tense or inhibited around strangers, and the desire to interact with others, often foreshadow later behavioral patterns. The study identified 10 independent genomic regions linked to emotionality, activity, or shyness, with most of these genes being associated with activity.
The researchers also found that the genetic signal for toddler activity on chromosome 12 had a high probability of sharing an underlying variant with a signal for RHEBL1 expression in the cerebral cortex, a gene previously linked to higher cognitive test scores and years of schooling.
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