Lack of evidence for allelic association between personality traits and the dopamine D4 receptor gene polymorphisms.
OBJECTIVE
Personality traits in human subjects have shown considerable heritable components. Recently, two research groups reported associations between dopamine D4 receptor genotypes and the personality trait known as novelty seeking. This study was an attempt to replicate these findings.


METHODS
Three different exonic dopamine D4 receptor polymorphisms were genotyped in 126 healthy Swedish subjects. Personality traits of the subjects were assessed with the Karolinska Scales of Personality.


RESULTS
Although there was a tendency in the direction hypothesized, no significant association between genotype constellations and personality traits was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The previously reported association between dopamine D4 receptor alleles and novelty seeking was not replicated. Possible reasons for this include differences in personality inventories, ethnicity, and type I or type II errors.
Jönsson
E G
EG
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Nöthen
M M
MM
Gustavsson
J P
JP
Neidt
H
H
Brené
S
S
Tylec
A
A
Propping
P
P
Sedvall
G C
GC
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; D012951:Socialization; D013548:Sweden / Q000208:ethnology
C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4