OBJECTIVES: Findings from behavioral genetics which demonstrate the high heritability of personality traits have stimulated the search for the specific genes underlying personality. A large number of association studies have investigated a correlation between serotonin transporter-linked promoter region(5-HTTLPR) polymorphism and personality traits but the results have been inconsistent. So, the aim of this study is to investigate in a large sample with homogenous background about ethnicity, gender, occupation, and age. METHODS: The participants included 247 healthy Korean female adults(mean age=23.12, SD=3.22)with no history of psychiatric disorders and other physical illnesses. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and genotyping was performed by PCR. Personality assessment was done with the Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI). RESULTS: Genotype Frequencies are l/l 3.6%, l/s 32.8% and s/s 63.6%(l allele: 20%, s allele: 80%). This low frequency of the l allele and l/l genotype was different from Caucasian results. No significant association was observed between 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and personality traits in a Korean female population. CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated the association between 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and personality traits in Korean female subjects, a large sample with homogeneous background about ethnicity, gender, occupation, and age. No significant association was observed between 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and personality traits in a Korean female population.
Alleles ; DNA ; Female* ; Genetics, Behavioral ; Genotype ; Humans ; Occupations ; Personality Assessment ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic* ; Serotonin* ; Temperament

OBJECTIVEThe goals, prospects and methods of the Prospective Twin Registry in Southwestern China (TRiSC) are described. The aim of this study is to measure children's behavioral development and psychopathology from phenotypic, genetic and environmental perspectives.

METHODSThe children's self-report, as well as parental and teachers' informant report were used to measure the children's behavior and psychopathology, and the latter was related to the children's general cognitive abilities, and to the parenting style. Other variables of interest such as children's temperament and parental health status were also used.

RESULTSNine thousand and three hundred thirty nine pairs of 0-16 years old twins have been registered, 324 pairs of them were monozygotic based on DNA samples as well as the detailed information on behavioral and cognitive aspects.Analysis has been performed for the influences of genetic and environmental factors on children's behavior and cognition.

CONCLUSIONSchool-based twins recruitment is a helpful method in child and adolescent twin study. TRiSC has been a valuable resource for research on the development of children's behavior and cognition.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Development ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Behavior ; Child ; Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cognition ; Environment ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genetics, Behavioral ; Human Development ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mental Health ; Prospective Studies ; Registries