A genome-wide linkage analysis for the personality trait neuroticism in the Irish affected sib-pair study of alcohol dependence.
Neuroticism is a personality trait which reflects individual differences in emotional stability and vulnerability to stress and anxiety. Consistent evidence shows substantial genetic influences on variation in this trait. The present study seeks to identify regions containing susceptibility loci for neuroticism using a selected sib-pair sample from Ireland. Using Merlin regress, we conducted a 4 cM whole-genome linkage analysis on 714 sib-pairs. Evidence for linkage to neuroticism was found on chromosomes 11p, 12q, and 15q. The highest linkage peak was on 12q at marker D12S1638 with a Lod score of 2.13 (-log p = 2.76, empirical P-value <0.001). Our data also support gender specific loci for neuroticism, with male specific linkage regions on chromosomes 1, 4, 11, 12, 15, 16, and 22, and female specific linkage regions on chromosomes 2, 4, 9, 12, 13, and 18. Some genome regions reported in the present study replicate findings from previous linkage studies of neuroticism. These results, together with prior studies, indicate several potential regions for quantitative trait loci for neuroticism that warrant further study.
Kuo
Po-Hsiu
PH
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0126, USA. pkuo@vcu.edu
Neale
Michael C
MC
Riley
Brien P
BP
Patterson
Diana G
DG
Walsh
Dermot
D
Prescott
Carol A
CA
Kendler
Kenneth S
KS
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005819:Genetic Markers; D015894:Genome, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
D005819:Genetic Markers