An Oxytocin Polymorphism May Lead to Differences in Temperament and Social Interactions

Researchers attempting to uncover the biological underpinnings of temperament and social disposition have focused primarily on genes associated with serotonin and dopamine receptors and genes regulating related proteins and enzymes (e.g., monoamine oxidase, tryptophan hydroxylase, GABA_A receptor subunits). Because oxytocin can affect affability and attachment, polymorphisms in the gene for the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) might also influence temperamental traits and social behavior. To examine two candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found on OXTR, investigators obtained DNA samples from 1040 non-Hispanic white and 203 black men and women enrolled in a university's community-based behavioral and biological registry (mean age, 44). …