DNA and social behavior

There is some evidence that human personality differences may be explained by differences in our so- called "junk DNA" (i.e. the 95% of our DNA that's not used to make protein), according to a study done by researchers at the Yerkes Primate Research Center and the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience.

[The technical term "microsatellite length", used below, refers to how often a subset of the gene repeats itself.  Each unique number of repeats (1, 2, 3... etc) describes a unique "gene variant" (variant 1, variant 2, variant 3, etc).]

"This is the first study to demonstrate a link between, gene expression patterns in the brain and social behavior across several species," said researcher Larry Young. "Because a significant portion of the human genome consists of junk DNA and due to the way microsatellite DNA expands and contracts over time, microsatellites may represent a previously unknown factor in social diversity."

Comments

[Sandra Hemmes]

I am 64 years old. Two years ago I started researching for my sister who her father could be. It ended up I found the man that she thought could be her father but it turned around and everything I read was the qualities of this man and me. I was shocked. I found who I look like, who I act like, who I have all the traits of likes and dislikes, and these things are significant. I got the DNA from the man that was claimed on my birth certificate, and always knew he wasn't my father - somehow I knew. The DNA said he was not my father. So, Terry is not my father, and the man I am just like, and never saw him, didn't know anything about him, and he died in 1974, Earl and I are so exactly alike. If you can use me for some kinds of tests on DNA personality or something I would be willing.