title: A combination of dopamine genes predicts success by professional Wall Street traders.
abstract: What determines success on Wall Street? This study examined if genes affecting dopamine levels of professional traders were associated with their career tenure. Sixty professional Wall Street traders were genotyped and compared to a control group who did not trade stocks. We found that distinct alleles of the dopamine receptor 4 promoter (DRD4P) and catecholamine-O-methyltransferase (COMT) that affect synaptic dopamine were predominant in traders. These alleles are associated with moderate, rather than very high or very low, levels of synaptic dopamine. The activity of these alleles correlated positively with years spent trading stocks on Wall Street. Differences in personality and trading behavior were also correlated with allelic variants. This evidence suggests there may be a genetic basis for the traits that make one a successful trader.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroeconomics Studies, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sapra
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Beavin
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Zak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D003132:Commerce; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004526:Efficiency / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005376:Financial Management; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D011361:Professional Competence; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D004298:Dopamine