Association analysis between 12 genetic variants of ten genes and personality traits in a young chinese Han population.

Some genes involved in neurotransmission synthesis and transmission have been hypothesized to affect personality traits. To investigate the possible roles of these genes in personality traits of 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire, we performed a population-based study in a young Chinese Han cohort. In the study, we selected some functional variations in ten candidate genes (COMT, DBH, DRD(2), DRD(3), DAT, MAOA, GRM(1), GRIN2B, 5-TH(2A), and 5-TH(6)) encoding components in dopamine, glutamate, and 5-hydroxytryptamine pathways. The results showed the T102C in 5-TH(2A) was associated with X3 (emotional and quiet alertness) and B (reasoning) (F = 4.71 and 6.23; p = 0.009 and 0.002), Val158Met in COMT with E (dominance) (F = 7.01; p = 0.0009), while the variations in DBH, DRD(2), DRD(3), MAOA, GRM(1), GRIN2B, and 5-TH(6) were not associated with any of the personality traits. This finding suggests that T102C in 5-TH(2A) and Val158Met in COMT play roles in some human personality traits.