Genes found to play an important role in empathy
pharmafile | June 8, 2017 | News story | Research and Development | 23andME, University of Cambridge
A recent study, conducted by the University of Cambridge, has found that DNA plays a part in determining an individual’s ability to empathise with others. The research particularly honed in on how people read emotions through looking at another’s eyes, with women, in particular, being found to be better able to read such signs than men.
The research was able to take place due to the collaboration between University of Cambridge and 23andMe that provides the former with a vast dataset to analyse. 89,000 people participated in the voluntary study by 23andMe, which saw participants given a task of reading two emotions from images of the eyes alone of an individual.
The researchers were then able to sift through the genetic information provided by 23andMe against the test results. The findings revealed that particular variants on chromosome 3 were found to be associated with higher results. However, this particular area of the chromosome did not appear to have any influence on the male participants of the test.
The section of the chromosome has been found to be associated with being involved in cognitive empathy, with the gene LRRN1 being found to be active in the striatum (brain scanning has shown this area to play a role in empathy).
The research was conducted by the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge and the results will give scientists further clues as to the roles of particular genes into the condition. Anecdotally, it was found that women performed better on the test than men, backing up the common assumption that women are generally more empathetic than men.
Dr. David Hinds, Principal Scientist, Statistical Genetics at 23andMe, says: “Finding genetic influences for these kinds of traits and conditions was just not possible in the past because the studies were simply too small. Now that we have large cohorts of research participants — in the tens of thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands — studies are yielding never seen before results. All thanks to research participation on a massive scale.”
This is not the first time 23andMe has linked up with the university, having previously collaborated on a 200,000 strong study into polycystic ovary syndrome to find genetic variants and causal links to the disease.
The use of customer’s genetic data for research purposes is becoming a major driver of companies such as 23andMe and Ancestry. The companies ostensibly offer health and ancestry information but can then use the data accrued to form collaboration with other areas or industries.
23andMe, for instance, already has deals in place with Pfizer and Genentech. This could see research in other areas being used to develop drug targets.
Ben Hargreaves
Related Content
23andMe to offer genetic reports on diabetes
Personal genomics company, 23andMe will offer customers information on the likelihood that they are genetically …
Widening the focus on innovations in cancer treatment
Cancer treatment is making leaps and bounds, but public focus tends to gravitate towards the …
GSK forges $300m partnership with 23andMe to boost preclinical R&D
In a bid to supercharge its drug discovery efforts, GlaxoSmithKline has sealed a $300 million …
