Is there a "Daredevil Gene"?
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Is the need for greater physical stimulation genetically inherited? A study has been done to test the genetics of risk taking (link article). The study was done on a set of twins and it was found that if one twin was likely to be a risk taker, the other was too. However, scientists aimed to find exactly which genes were "thrill-seeking" genes. The neurotransmitter dopamine is responsible for reward and pleasure. It was found in many studies done prior that genes related to dopamine and sensation seeking were not consistent. Some evidence linked toward the DRD4 gene found that dopamine receptor development and function led to the increased drive for risky behavior.
In another study, exercise physiologist Cynthia Thomson took a different approach and did her research on sports that involved a high risk factor. Some of these sports included skiing and snowboarding. She asked people who participated in these sports how fast they rode and how often they would jump from cliffs or play it safe and ride steady. Along with this questionnaire, Thomson also asked for a cheek swab from each participant. She found that those who displayed one particular type of DNA coding were much more likely to have a high score on their questionnaire. Studies also suggest that if sensation seekers may be more likely to engage in other risky behaviors such as drugs or gambling.
I feel that if this gene that leads to a greater need for physical stimulation is found early in life, it may lead to an increase in professional athletes. Given a healthy was to engage in risky behavior, children can succeed in risky sports and go on to become star athletes. Being that said isolating and identifying this gene may also lead to a lower rate of gambling or drug addictions.
Primary Article: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/19/the-genetics-of-being-a-daredevil/?_r=0
Secondary Article: http://www.livescience.com/26294-ski-genes-thrill-seeking.html
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