Yonsei Med J.  2006 Dec;47(6):787-792. 10.3349/ymj.2006.47.6.787.

Lack of Association between Polymorphisms of the Dopamine Receptor D4 and Dopamine Transporter Genes and Personality Traits in a Korean Population

• Kim SJ
• Kim YS
• Kim CH
• Lee HS

• KMID: 1777166
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2006.47.6.787

Abstract

Human personality traits have a considerable genetic component. Cloninger et al. were the first to postulate that certain personality traits, such as novelty seeking, are related to the dopamine neurotransmitter system. In this study, we investigated the associations between dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) exon III and dopamine transporter (DAT1) polymorphisms and personality traits. The DRD4 and DAT1 gene polymorphisms were genotyped in 214 healthy Korean subjects, whose personality traits were assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). There were no significant differences between scores of TCI temperament dimensions (novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, and persistence) and DRD4 gene polymorphism. The DAT1 gene polymorphisms also showed no significant association with any of the temperament subscales of the TCI. These data suggest that DRD4 and DAT1 gene polymorphism may not associated with personality traits in a Korean population.

Keyword

Dopamine receptor D4; dopamine transporter gene; polymorphism; personality traits; temperament and character inventory; Korean

MeSH Terms

Temperament
Receptors, Dopamine D4/*genetics
*Polymorphism, Genetic
Personality/*genetics
Male
Korea
Humans
Female
Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics
Adult