scholarly journals The evolutionary genetics of personality

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Penke ◽  
Jaap J. A. Denissen ◽  
Geoffrey F. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Balancing Selection ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Evolutionary Genetics ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Personality Differences ◽  
Selective Neutrality ◽  
Evolutionary Genetic ◽  
Genetic Mechanisms

Genetic influences on personality differences are ubiquitous, but their nature is not well understood. A theoretical framework might help, and can be provided by evolutionary genetics. We assess three evolutionary genetic mechanisms that could explain genetic variance in personality differences: selective neutrality, mutation‐selection balance, and balancing selection. Based on evolutionary genetic theory and empirical results from behaviour genetics and personality psychology, we conclude that selective neutrality is largely irrelevant, that mutation‐selection balance seems best at explaining genetic variance in intelligence, and that balancing selection by environmental heterogeneity seems best at explaining genetic variance in personality traits. We propose a general model of heritable personality differences that conceptualises intelligence as fitness components and personality traits as individual reaction norms of genotypes across environments, with different fitness consequences in different environmental niches. We also discuss the place of mental health in the model. This evolutionary genetic framework highlights the role of gene‐environment interactions in the study of personality, yields new insight into the person‐situation‐debate and the structure of personality, and has practical implications for both quantitative and molecular genetic studies of personality. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

scholarly journals Unravelling the Interplay between Genetic and Environmental Contributions in the Unfolding of Personality Differences from Early Adolescence to Young Adulthood

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Kandler ◽  
Trine Waaktaar ◽  
René Mõttus ◽  
Rainer Riemann ◽  
Svenn Torgersen
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Personality Differences ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Twin Families ◽  
Adolescent Twins

In two studies, we examined the genetic and environmental sources of the unfolding of personality trait differences from childhood to emerging adulthood. Using self–reports from over 3000 representative German twin pairs of three birth cohorts, we could replicate previous findings on the primary role of genetic sources accounting for the unfolding of inter–individual differences in personality traits and stabilizing trait differences during adolescence. More specifically, the genetic variance increased between early (ages 10–12 years) and late (ages 16–18 years) adolescence and stabilized between late adolescence and young adulthood (ages 21–25 years). This trend could be confirmed in a second three–wave longitudinal study of adolescents’ personality self–reports and parent ratings from about 1400 Norwegian twin families (average ages between 15 and 20 years). Moreover, the longitudinal study provided evidence for increasing genetic differences being primarily due to accumulation of novel genetic influences instead of an amplification of initial genetic variation. This is in line with cumulative interaction effects between twins’ correlated genetic makeups and environmental circumstances shared by adolescent twins reared together. In other words, nature × nurture interactions rather than transactions can account for increases in genetic variance and thus personality variance during adolescence. © 2019 European Association of Personality Psychology

Evolutionary genetics of small populations

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Frankham ◽  
Jonathan D. Ballou ◽  
Katherine Ralls ◽  
Mark D. B. Eldridge ◽  
Michele R. Dudash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Evolutionary Genetics ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Genetic Management ◽  
Evolutionary Genetic ◽  
Loss Of Genetic Diversity ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Genetic management of fragmented populations involves the application of evolutionary genetic theory and knowledge to alleviate problems due to inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity in small population fragments. Populations evolve through the effects of mutation, natural selection, chance (genetic drift) and gene flow (migration). Large outbreeding, sexually reproducing populations typically contain substantial genetic diversity, while small populations typically contain reduced levels. Genetic impacts of small population size on inbreeding, loss of genetic diversity and population differentiation are determined by the genetically effective population size, which is usually much smaller than the number of individuals.

scholarly journals Can Facebook likes predict the purchase probability of electricity storage systems?

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Poier
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Big Five Personality Traits ◽  
Photovoltaic System ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Electricity Storage ◽  
Combining Data ◽  
User Groups

AbstractThis study among owners of photovoltaic systems investigates whether users' Big Five personality traits derived from their Facebook likes contribute to whether or not they adopt an electricity storage. It is based on the finding that the digital footprint, especially the Facebook likes, can in part predict the personality of users better than friends and family. The survey was conducted among 159 Facebook users in Germany who owned a photovoltaic system. For comparison, a control sample with data from the German Socio-Economic Panel with 425 photovoltaic owners among 7286 individuals was used. The results show that, for extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, the mean scores could be sufficiently predicted. However, a positive correlation could only be detected for extraversion. The comparison of the user groups could not provide satisfying results. None of the Big Five personality traits could be used to distinguish the two user groups from each other. Although the results did not support the hypotheses, this study offers insights into the possibilities of combining data mining, personality psychology, and consumer research.

scholarly journals Educational Attainment and Personality Are Genetically Intertwined

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1631-1639 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Mõttus ◽  
Anu Realo ◽  
Uku Vainik ◽  
Jüri Allik ◽  
Tõnu Esko
Keyword(s):  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Maximum Amount ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Psychological Traits ◽  
Polygenic Scores

Heritable variance in psychological traits may reflect genetic and biological processes that are not necessarily specific to these particular traits but pertain to a broader range of phenotypes. We tested the possibility that the personality domains of the five-factor model and their 30 facets, as rated by people themselves and their knowledgeable informants, reflect polygenic influences that have been previously associated with educational attainment. In a sample of more than 3,000 adult Estonians, education polygenic scores (EPSs), which are interpretable as estimates of molecular-genetic propensity for education, were correlated with various personality traits, particularly from the neuroticism and openness domains. The correlations of personality traits with phenotypic educational attainment closely mirrored their correlations with EPS. Moreover, EPS predicted an aggregate personality trait tailored to capture the maximum amount of variance in educational attainment almost as strongly as it predicted the attainment itself. We discuss possible interpretations and implications of these findings.

scholarly journals Comparative transcriptome analysis of mule uncovered several heterosis-related genes for improving muscular endurance and cognition

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan Gao
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Splicing ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Hybrid Vigor ◽  
Neuronal System ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Genetic Mechanisms ◽  
Productive Traits ◽  
Genome Wide Gene Expression

AbstractHeterosis has been widely exploited in animal and plant breeding to enhance the productive traits of hybrid progeny of two breeds or two species. Although, there were multiple models for explaining the hybrid vigor, such as dominance and over-dominance hypothesis, its underlying molecular genetic mechanisms remain equivocal. The aim of this study is through comparing the different expression genes (DEGs) and different alternative splicing (DAS) genes to explore the mechanism of heterosis. Here, we performed a genome-wide gene expression and alternative splicing analysis of two heterotic crosses between donkey and horse in three tissues. The results showed that the DAS genes influenced the heterosis-related phenotypes in a unique than DEGs and about 10% DEGs are DAS genes. In addition, over 69.7% DEGs and 87.2% DAS genes showed over-dominance or dominance, respectively. Furthermore, the “Muscle Contraction” and “Neuronal System” pathways were significantly enriched both for the DEGs and DAS genes in muscle. TNNC2 and RYR1 genes may contribute to mule’s great endurance while GRIA2 and GRIN1 genes may be related with mule’s cognition. Together, these DEGs and DAS genes provide the candidates for future studies of the genetic and molecular mechanism of heterosis in mule.

scholarly journals Observed positive parenting behaviors and youth genotype: Evidence for gene–environment correlations and moderation by parent personality traits

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline W. Oppenheimer ◽  
Benjamin L. Hankin ◽  
Jessica L. Jenness ◽  
Jami F. Young ◽  
Andrew Smolen
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Genetic Research ◽  
Parenting Behaviors ◽  
Positive Parenting ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Parent Personality

AbstractGene–environment correlations (rGE) have been demonstrated in behavioral genetic studies, but rGE have proven elusive in molecular genetic research. Significant gene–environment correlations may be difficult to detect because potential moderators could reduce correlations between measured genetic variants and the environment. Molecular genetic studies investigating moderated rGE are lacking. This study examined associations between child catechol-O-methyltransferase genotype and aspects of positive parenting (responsiveness and warmth), and whether these associations were moderated by parental personality traits (neuroticism and extraversion) among a general community sample of third, sixth, and ninth graders (N = 263) and their parents. Results showed that parent personality traits moderated the rGE association between youths' genotype and coded observations of positive parenting. Parents with low levels of neuroticism and high levels of extraversion exhibited greater sensitive responsiveness and warmth, respectively, to youth with the valine/valine genotype. Moreover, youth with this genotype exhibited lower levels of observed anger. There was no association between the catechol-O-methyltransferase genotype and parenting behaviors for parents high on neuroticism and low on extraversion. Findings highlight the importance of considering moderating variables that may influence child genetic effects on the rearing environment. Implications for developmental models of maladaptive and adaptive child outcomes, and interventions for psychopathology, are discussed within a developmental psychopathology framework.

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