HARRY POTTER IN YOUR DNA: How Genes Determine Your Library
Photo source: simplyscience.ch
A gene typically has two variations — alleles. These can be either dominant or recessive. The latter, the «suppressed» gene, is inherited from parents and manifests in the child. Scientists believe that various traits are inherited this way: appearance, intelligence, metabolism, immunity, phobias, character traits, temperament, facial expressions, voice timbre… and even artistic taste! Recent research in this field has produced astounding results.
THEY DETERMINE A LOT…
First and foremost, we all care about the health of our offspring. That’s why science initially focused on studying genetically inherited diseases. To date, around 3,500 such conditions have been described. However, as genetics has advanced, our uniqueness has increasingly come into question.
Scientists have discovered a wide range of unusual and non-obvious traits that we inherit. For example, the duration of sleep, which is controlled by as many as 78 gene regions, is inherited. If your parents like to sleep in, then a dislike for early mornings is almost guaranteed for you. Do you sneeze from bright light? This strange characteristic is also inherited from ancestors whose bodies reacted to sudden changes in the amount of surrounding light.
LOVE SWEETS AND COFFEE? THANK YOU, GENES!
Can’t live without sweets? Blame the gene responsible for glucose perception. However, it doesn’t just make you consume more sugar; it also regulates excess fat accumulation. Research from the University of California found that 30% of Americans have a genetic variation that reduces driving skills by 20%.
If you have amusia — tone deafness — know that you’re among the 4% of the population who inherited this musical impairment. Your pain threshold is also inherited; how you react to pain depends on various factors such as gender, age, and even race.
Can’t start your day without a cup of coffee? Believe it or not, your love for this aromatic drink is also encoded in your genes. Specific genetic variations even determine the number of cups you drink each day.
GENETICS AND LITERATURE: SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND A CONNECTION!
But coffee obsession isn’t the most surprising thing we can inherit from our parents. Every year, scientists uncover more and more facets of what we call heredity. One of the latest studies, published in the scientific journal PLOS One, has shown that our literary preferences are also far from random!
If you love science fiction, detective stories, or adventure novels, it’s not just a matter of personal taste or voluntary choice. Your preference for specific literary genres is the result of genetic predisposition.
It was previously believed that literary taste was primarily a cultural phenomenon shaped by upbringing, education, social environment, and personal experience. However, the study’s authors, Danish scientists from the University of Copenhagen, found that it’s both more complex and more straightforward than that…
TWINS AND LIBRARIES
Researchers became interested in what twins read. To explore this, they turned to European public libraries, where they collected and analyzed data on 67,900 twins aged 18 and over. The data collection took place throughout 2021, indicating the incredible time and effort invested by the scientists in conducting this large-scale study.
However, organizing the research any other way was impossible: the database of books used by twins in public libraries naturally contained no genetic information. Therefore, the gender of the twin readers was crucial for the researchers. The scientific method they employed allowed them to account for the heterogeneity of the studied population based on gender and assess the heritability of the trait.
TWINS ARE NOT ALL THE SAME!
The analysis of the collected data was conducted in three directions. First, the most comprehensive socio-demographic information about the twins was taken into account. Various characteristics were recorded, including gender, age, education, income level, and more.
Second, to comprehensively analyze literary tastes, all possible book formats in the modern world were considered — electronic, print, and audio versions. All literary genres, styles, and directions were taken into consideration.
Third, the scientists compared the literary preferences of identical and fraternal twins. The meticulousness of the Danish researchers is astonishing! However, this is justified by the fact that not all twins are the same: identical twins share an identical genome, while fraternal twins share only 50%, similar to regular siblings.
ENVIRONMENT LOSES TO GENES
Using all this information and statistical analysis methods, Danish geneticists managed to categorize literary preferences into two groups. The first group includes those influenced by social context and interactions with others. The second group consists of preferences shaped by heredity. The results were astounding!
It turned out that our literary preferences are determined by genetics to a significant degree — ranging from 45% to 70%! Moreover, social environment — teachers, friends, upbringing, and education — either has no impact on these preferences or influences them only to a minimal extent.
GENES INFLUENCE THE BRAIN; THE BRAIN SHAPES TASTES
It turns out that the same factor that determines your nose shape and eye color — genes — also drives your passion for Shakespeare’s plays, love for Harry Potter, or fascination with Sherlock Holmes’s deductions. But how does this happen?
Scientists believe that this phenomenon is rooted in the influence genes have on the deep mechanisms of the brain, which are responsible for cognitive abilities, information processing, and emotional responsiveness.
These mechanisms, in turn, shape our preferences in literature. Some may find it unsettling to realize that their tastes are not entirely free. However, it’s important to note that genetic predisposition is far from a definitive sentence.
GENES ARE NOT FATEFUL SENTENCES!
Let’s remember that a specific gene in the body does not always determine a person’s destiny. For example, a DNA analysis of the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven shows a complete lack of exceptional musical abilities. Yet, the story of his life and work is a total contradiction to this genetic fact. It seems that the level of personal development plays a role.
Interestingly, the data obtained by Danish scientists reveals another surprising fact: the heritability of literary tastes is higher among those who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Scientists have yet to provide a clear explanation for this phenomenon.
They suggest that perhaps the conditions in which artistic preferences could manifest are simply absent — people from disadvantaged groups are significantly limited in their access to education, cultural resources, and diverse experiences.
PRACTICAL BENEFIT: YOUR CHOICE IS NOW TRULY YOURS!
What are the practical implications of the Danish geneticists’ discoveries? Scientists believe that cultural sociologists and literary experts should consider the genetic aspect when analyzing literary tastes. Moreover, this discovery is likely not limited to literature, as the influence of genes probably extends to cultural preferences in general: painting, music, cinema…
Finally, the day is not far off when the analysis of our genes will form the basis for creating personalized recommendations that account for personal tastes and individual perceptions. Why struggle with making unnatural cultural choices when you can select «the right» works of art perfectly aligned with your heredity? No more forcing yourself — now you read, watch, and listen to precisely what your genes guarantee you’ll enjoy!
Original research:
