title: Temperamental activity and epidermal growth factor A61G polymorphism in Finnish adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has widespread effects on the developing and mature nervous system. This study examined whether genetic differences in the EGF predict differences in the self-reported level of activity temperament in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and ninety-two men and women from the population-based Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study were genotyped for the functional EGF gene A61G polymorphisms, and their temperamental activity was assessed 3 times in 1992, 1997 and 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EGF gene predicted temperamental activity (the mean of 3 assessments, p = 0.007), with the G/G genotype being associated with the highest level of activity. Additional analyses in separate years indicated that the association was robust across different measurements of activity (p < or = 0.05 in 1992 and 1997, p = 0.008 in 2001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that polymorphic variation in the EGF A61 gene may be one of the factors underlying the temperament dimension of activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Sampsa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puttonen
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keltikangas-Järvinen
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elovainio
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivimäki
authors.forename: Riikka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rontu
authors.forename: Terho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehtimäki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013694:Temperament
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor