Genes have a role in empathy, study says

From the workplace to the party, you can build close relationships with people in various situations and influence behavior.

Now scientists say that empathy is not what we develop through our growth experience and life experience - it is also partially genetic.

In a study of 46,000 people for the first time, we found evidence that genes are involved in our emotional change.

It will guide us to respond appropriately, by helping us identify other people 's emotions, knowing when someone is upset and when they want to be comforted.

But in this new paper published in the Journal of Translational Psychiatry, scientists are trying to ascertain whether our empathy can trace back to our genes.

Study participants measured their "emotional index" (EQ) using a questionnaire and presented saliva samples for DNA testing.

Scientists then look for differences in their genes, and that explains why some of us are more thoughtful than others.

Varun Warrier, who led the research at Cambridge University, said: "This is an important step in understanding the role of genetics in empathy.

"However, understanding non-genetic factors is equally important, as one-tenth of the difference in degree of homology among individuals is due to genetic factors."

In the EQ questionnaire, the average female score is 80 and the female is 41.

Scientists also found that genetic differences associated with low sympathy are also associated with high risk of autism.

They found genetic differences among people who sympathized, but could not find a specific "empathic gene" responsible for it.

They added that future research will find that genes affecting empathy will benefit from more people involved in the study.

Gil McVean, a professor of statistical genetics at Oxford University, to BBC, this study confirmed that genes work sympathetically, but said it is "secondary" compared to environmental factors .

"We all know that all things that can be measured in the human body have genetic elements, which proves that empathy has a genetic component."

Dr. Edward Barker, a reader of the department of psychology at King's College London, said that this paper has a "very interesting" discovery and is a "first step" to explore the relationship between our genes and empathy It was.

"But as the authors say, this is the first time that this type of analysis has been analyzed, it could potentially benefit from larger-scale studies," he added.

Of course, the fact that genes play a role in our empathy does not mean that empathy exceeds our control completely. Varan Warrier, a student at the Autistic Research Center's doctoral course and one of the main authors of the study pointed out in the press release, "Because of heritability, only one-tenth of individual differences in empathy of the population, It is equally important to understand the other 90% non-genetic factors as well.The team will collect more samples, looking to the future, how our DNA influences our way of understanding I hope to understand more accurately and respond to people around me.

The influence of genes does not mean that empathy exceeds our control. This may simply mean that people with a particular genetic predisposition feel more difficult to coordinate their empathy. "My hypothesis is that people who tend to have a higher empathy level of that gene may feel that it is easier to see social clues and raise empathy levels, Said Warrier. Researchers found that the same genetic diversity associated with reduced empathy is also associated with higher risk of autism. Simon Baron - Cohen, professor of developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge, co - author of the study, said in a statement that this study will help to further understand autism. "It is difficult to imagine causing disability," he adds, to other people's thoughts and emotions.