If you’ve ever gotten into a political argument, you’ve probably realized that many people’s political beliefs are deeply entrenched. And that may be partly thanks to their genes.
A new study finds that variations in one particular gene, coding for a chemical receptor in the brain, are strongly tied to a person’s political views.
Prior studies of political beliefs within families have indicated that people’s political attitudes are partly genetic. And researchers are particularly interested in a gene called DRD4, which carries the genetic code for a dopamine receptor.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical your brain uses to send signals between nerves. It plays a role in things like predicting possible rewards, learning about punishments, and making decisions about risky behavior. Previous studies have found links between DRD4 and attitudes toward financial risk.
An earlier study on young adults in the U.S. found that variations in the DRD4 gene ...
