Traits You Didn’t Realize Were Genetic

The nature versus nurture debate continues. In some circles, it is accepted that our environment determines the way we are but others look to science and believe it is based on the influence of genetics. Genetic traits such as skin color, dimples, freckles, eye color and even intelligence that are pretty obvious; however, there other traits that will be highlighted here that you may not have realized are genetic. It’s true that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.\r \r 1. Procrastination and Laziness\r \r Procrastination and laziness are frowned upon and are viewed as a character flaw. There are people who prefer spending time on their coach watching television rather than completing their countless reports or chores. Recent neuroscience and psychological studies have proven that procrastination and by extension laziness can be inherited. The genetics of impulsivity and procrastination are interconnected. A genetic mutation known as SLC35D3 was found to create a protein that interferes with the dopamine system in the brain, which causes cells to initiate movement. Dopamine receptors were entrapped inside cells in mice with a defective SLC35D3 gene, leading to these mice becoming couch potatoes.\r \r 2. Taste in Music\r \r A study into the musical taste of about 4,000 twins showed that genetic influences on people’s preferences in music vary with genre. Studies have proven that prior to the age of fifty, genes have a greater influence on musical taste than environmental circumstances. After the age of fifty, that influence depletes. The study took into account the distinct musical genres as well as the impact that genes may have on a person's preference for a certain musical style. Jazz, blues, and soul music had a fifty-six percent genetic influence on persons under fifty, whereas pop, classical, rap, and hip-hop music had a fifty-three percent genetic influence.\r \r 3. Phobias\r \r A phobia is an excessive fear of an object or situation and it is a type of anxiety disorder. Many people believe that phobias are developed through traumatizing life experiences but this isn’t always the case. How would you explain a baby being shown a picture of a snake and being terrified? Scientists have proven that phobias are shaped in part by genes. For instance, compared to non-identical twins, identical twins are more prone to have phobias for the same creatures, such as snakes or rats. Genome searches for social phobia, agoraphobia, and simple phobia have been reported.\r \r 4. What We Should Eat\r \r The way to determine a diet that works for you is to consider your genetics. Nutrigenomics is a relatively new branch of science that examines how genes, diet, and health are related. It aims to clarify how our bodies react to what we consume and how we might utilize this understanding to activate our "good" genes and silence our "bad" genes. Researchers discovered that individualized diets based on genetic make-up enhance eating behaviors. These diets use genetic data to generate dietary recommendations that are tailored to a person’s unique nutritional and health needs and that help prevent chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition.\r \r 5. Allergies\r \r When considering the relationship between allergies and heredity, allergic disorders such as hay fever, atopic eczema and food allergies, are grouped together. It seems that some families are more susceptible than others to experience allergy problems. Newborns in these families frequently have a higher risk of acquiring an allergy. It is believed that a genetic factor called atopic contributes to this familial propensity to develop allergy disorders. According to estimates, more than half of newborns from atopic families will experience an allergic reaction.\r \r