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Junoury 11, ooq
My Genome, My SelI
By STIVIN PINKIR
ONE O THE PERKS oI beIng u psycIoIogIsL Is uccess Lo LooIs LIuL uIIow you Lo curry ouL LIe InjuncLIon Lo know LIyseII.
Iuve been LesLed Ior vocuLIonuI InLeresL (cIosesL muLcI: psycIoIogIsL), InLeIIIgence (ubove uveruge), personuIILy (open,
conscIenLIous, ugreeubIe, uveruge In exLruversIon, noL Loo neuroLIc) und poIILIcuI orIenLuLIon (neILIer IeILIsL nor rIgILIsL,
more IIberLurIun LIun uuLIorILurIun). Iuve M.R.. pIcLures oI my bruIn (no obvIous IoIes or buIges) und soon wIII
undergo LIe uILImuLe LesL oI murILuI Iove: my bruIn wIII be scunned wIIIe my wIIe`s nume Is subIImInuIIy IIusIed beIore
my eyes.
usL IuII submILLed Lo LIe IuLesL IIgI-LecI wuy Lo bure your souI. Iud my genome sequenced und um uIIowIng IL Lo be
posLed on LIe nLerneL, uIong wILI my medIcuI IIsLory. TIe opporLunILy urose wIen LIe bIoIogIsL George CIurcI sougIL
1o voIunLeers Lo kIck oII IIs uuducIous PersonuI Genome ProjecL. TIe P.G.P. Ius creuLed u pubIIc duLubuse LIuL wIII
conLuIn LIe genomes und LruILs oI 1oo,ooo peopIe. TuppIng LIe mugIc oI crowd sourcIng LIuL guve us WIkIpedIu und
GoogIe runkIngs, LIe projecL seeks Lo enguge geneLIcIsLs In u worIdwIde eIIorL Lo sIIL LIrougI LIe geneLIc und
envIronmenLuI predIcLors oI medIcuI, pIysIcuI und beIuvIoruI LruILs.
TIe PersonuI Genome ProjecL Is un InILIuLIve In busIc reseurcI, noL personuI dIscovery. YeL LIe LecInoIogIcuI udvunce
mukIng IL possIbIe - LIe pIungIng cosL oI genome sequencIng - wIII soon gIve peopIe un unprecedenLed opporLunILy Lo
conLempIuLe LIeIr own bIoIogIcuI und even psycIoIogIcuI mukeups. We Iuve enLered LIe eru oI consumer geneLIcs. AL
one end oI LIe prIce runge you cun geL u compIeLe sequence und unuIysIs oI your genome Irom Knome (oILen
pronounced know me) Ior $qq,oo. AL LIe oLIer you cun geL u sumpIe oI LruILs, dIseuse rIsks und uncesLry duLu Irom
zundMe Ior $qq. TIe scIence journuI NuLure IIsLed PersonuI GenomIcs Goes MuInsLreum us u Lop news sLory oI
zoo8.
Ike LIe eurIy duys oI LIe nLerneL, LIe duwn oI personuI genomIcs promIses beneIILs und pILIuIIs LIuL no one cun Ioresee.
L couId usIer In un eru oI personuIIzed medIcIne, In wIIcI drug regImens ure cusLomIzed Ior u puLIenL`s bIocIemIsLry
ruLIer LIun juggIed LIrougI LrIuI und error, und screenIng und prevenLIon meusures ure uImed uL LIose wIo ure mosL uL
rIsk. L opens up u nIcIe Ior boLLom-IeedIng compunIes Lo LerrIIy IypocIondrIucs by LurnIng dubIous probubIIILIes InLo
Genes oI Doom. DependIng on wIo Ius uccess Lo LIe InIormuLIon, personuI genomIcs couId brIng ubouL nuLIonuI IeuILI
Insurunce, IeupIroggIng decudes oI debuLe, becuuse pIecemeuI Insurunce Is noL vIubIe In u worId In wIIcI Insurers cun
cIerry-pIck LIe mosL rIsk-Iree cusLomers, or In wIIcI uL-rIsk cusLomers cun Ioud up on IuvIsI Insurunce.
TIe pILIuIIs oI personuI genomIcs Iuve uIreudy mude IL u subjecL oI governmenL uLLenLIon. usL yeur PresIdenL BusI
sIgned LIe GeneLIc nIormuLIon NondIscrImInuLIon AcL, ouLIuwIng dIscrImInuLIon In empIoymenL und IeuILI Insurunce
bused on geneLIc duLu. And LIe sLuLes oI CuIIIornIu und New York Look ucLIon uguInsL LIe dIrecL-Lo-consumer compunIes,
urguIng LIuL wIuL LIey provIde ure medIcuI LesLs und LIus cun be ordered onIy by u docLor.
WILI LIe genome no Iess LIun wILI LIe nLerneL, InIormuLIon wunLs Lo be Iree, und doubL LIuL puLernuIIsLIc meusures
cun sLIIIe LIe IndusLry Ior Iong (buL LIen, Iuve u IIberLurIun LemperumenL). or beLLer or Ior worse, peopIe wIII wunL Lo
know ubouL LIeIr genomes. TIe Iumun mInd Is prone Lo essenLIuIIsm - LIe InLuILIon LIuL IIvIng LIIngs Iouse some
IIdden subsLunce LIuL gIves LIem LIeIr Iorm und deLermInes LIeIr powers. Over LIe pusL cenLury, LIIs essence Ius
become IncreusIngIy concreLe. GrowIng ouL oI LIe eurIy, vugue Ideu LIuL LruILs ure In LIe bIood, LIe essence becume
IdenLIIIed wILI LIe ubsLrucLIons dIscovered by Gregor MendeI cuIIed genes, und LIen wILI LIe IconIc doubIe IeIIx oI
DNA. BuL DNA Ius Iong been un InvIsIbIe moIecuIe uccessIbIe onIy Lo u wIILe-couLed prIesLIood. Toduy, Ior LIe prIce oI
u IIuL-screen TV, peopIe cun reud LIeIr essence us u prInLouL deLuIIIng LIeIr very own A`s, C`s, T`s und G`s.
A IIrsLIund IumIIIurILy wILI LIe code oI IIIe Is bound Lo conIronL us wILI LIe emoLIonuI, moruI und poIILIcuI bugguge
ussocIuLed wILI LIe Ideu oI our essenLIuI nuLure. PeopIe Iuve Iong been IumIIIur wILI LesLs Ior IerILubIe dIseuses, und LIe
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use oI geneLIcs Lo Lruce uncesLry - LIe new RooLs - Is becomIng IumIIIur us weII. BuL we ure onIy begInnIng Lo
recognIze LIuL our genome uIso conLuIns InIormuLIon ubouL our LemperumenLs und ubIIILIes. AIIordubIe genoLypIng muy
oIIer new kInds oI unswers Lo LIe quesLIon WIo um ? - Lo rumInuLIons ubouL our uncesLry, our vuInerubIIILIes, our
cIurucLer und our cIoIces In IIIe.
Over LIe yeurs Iuve come Lo upprecIuLe Iow eIusIve LIe unswers Lo LIose quesLIons cun be. DurIng my IIrsL book Lour
1 yeurs ugo, un InLervIewer noLed LIuL LIe puIeonLoIogIsL SLepIen Juy GouId Iud dedIcuLed IIs IIrsL book Lo IIs IuLIer,
wIo Look IIm Lo see LIe dInosuurs wIen Ie wus . WIuL wus LIe evenL LIuL mude me become u cognILIve psycIoIogIsL
wIo sLudIes Iunguuge? wus dumbsLruck. TIe onIy LIIng LIuL cume Lo mInd wus LIuL LIe Iumun mInd Is unIqueIy
InLeresLIng und LIuL us soon us Ieurned you couId sLudy IL Ior u IIvIng, knew LIuL LIuL wus wIuL wunLed Lo do. BuL
LIuL response wouId noL jusL Iuve been cIurmIess; IL wouId uIso Iuve IuIIed Lo unswer LIe quesLIon. MIIIIons oI peopIe
ure exposed Lo cognILIve psycIoIogy In coIIege buL Iuve no InLeresL In mukIng u cureer oI IL. WIuL mude IL so uLLrucLIve Lo
me?
As sLured bIunkIy, LIe InLervIewer suggesLed LIuL perIups IL wus becuuse grew up In Quebec In LIe 1q;os wIen
Iunguuge, our pre-emInenL cognILIve cupucILy, IIgured so promInenLIy In debuLes ubouL LIe IuLure oI LIe provInce.
quIckIy ugreed - und sIIenLIy vowed Lo come up wILI someLIIng beLLer Ior LIe nexL LIme. Now suy LIuL my IormuLIve
yeurs were u LIme oI rugIng debuLes ubouL LIe poIILIcuI ImpIIcuLIons oI Iumun nuLure, or LIuL my purenLs subscrIbed Lo u
TIme-IIe serIes oI scIence books, und my eye wus cuugIL by LIe one cuIIed TIe MInd, or LIuL one duy u IrIend Look me
Lo Ieur u IecLure by LIe greuL CunudIun psycIoIogIsL D. O. Hebb, und wus Iooked. BuL IL Is uII Iumbug. TIe very IucL
LIuL Iud Lo LIInk so Iurd brougIL Iome wIuL scIoIurs oI uuLobIogrupIy und memoIr Iuve Iong recognIzed. None oI us
know wIuL mude us wIuL we ure, und wIen we Iuve Lo suy someLIIng, we muke up u good sLory.
An obvIous cundIduLe Ior LIe reuI unswer Is LIuL we ure sIuped by our genes In wuys LIuL none oI us cun dIrecLIy know.
OI course genes cun`L puII LIe Ievers oI our beIuvIor dIrecLIy. BuL LIey uIIecL LIe wIrIng und workIngs oI LIe bruIn, und
LIe bruIn Is LIe seuL oI our drIves, LemperumenLs und puLLerns oI LIougIL. EucI oI us Is deuIL u unIque Iund oI LusLes und
upLILudes, IIke curIosILy, umbILIon, empuLIy, u LIIrsL Ior noveILy or Ior securILy, u comIorL IeveI wILI LIe socIuI or LIe
mecIunIcuI or LIe ubsLrucL. Some opporLunILIes we come ucross cIIck wILI our consLILuLIons und seL us uIong u puLI In
IIIe.
TIIs IurdIy seems rudIcuI - uny purenL oI more LIun one cIIId wIII LeII you LIuL bubIes come InLo LIe worId wILI dIsLIncL
personuIILIes. BuL wIuL cun unyone suy ubouL Iow LIe buby goL Lo be LIuL wuy? UnLII recenLIy, LIe onIy porLenLs on oIIer
were LruILs LIuL run In LIe IumIIy, und even LIey conIIuLed geneLIc LendencIes wILI IumIIy LrudILIons. Now, uL IeusL In
LIeory, personuI genomIcs cun oIIer u more precIse expIunuLIon. We mIgIL be ubIe Lo IdenLIIy LIe ucLuuI genes LIuL
IncIIne u person Lo beIng nusLy or nIce, un eggIeud or u doer, u sud suck or u bIILIe spIrIL.
ookIng Lo LIe genome Ior LIe nuLure oI LIe person Is Iur Irom Innocuous. n LIe zoLI cenLury, muny InLeIIecLuuIs
embruced LIe Ideu LIuL bubIes ure bIunk sIuLes LIuL ure InscrIbed by purenLs und socIeLy. L uIIowed LIem Lo dIsLunce
LIemseIves Irom LoxIc docLrInes IIke LIuL oI u superIor ruce, LIe eugenIc breedIng oI u beLLer specIes or u geneLIc versIon
oI LIe TwInkIe DeIense In wIIcI IndIvIduuIs or socIeLy couId evude responsIbIIILy by suyIng LIuL IL`s uII In LIe genes.
WIen IL cume Lo Iumun beIuvIor, LIe uLLILude Lowurd geneLIcs wus Don`L go LIere. TIose wIo dId go LIere Iound
LIemseIves pIckeLed, Lurred us NuzIs und geneLIc deLermInIsLs or, In LIe cuse oI LIe bIoIogIsL E. O. WIIson, doused wILI u
pILcIer oI Ice wuLer uL u scIenLIIIc conIerence.
Toduy, us LIe Iessons oI IIsLory Iuve become cIeurer, LIe Luboo Is IudIng. TIougI LIe zoLI cenLury suw IorrIIIc
genocIdes InspIred by NuzI pseudoscIence ubouL geneLIcs und ruce, IL uIso suw IorrIIIc genocIdes InspIred by MurxIsL
pseudoscIence ubouL LIe muIIeubIIILy oI Iumun nuLure. TIe reuI LIreuL Lo IumunILy comes Irom LoLuIIzIng IdeoIogIes und
LIe denIuI oI Iumun rIgILs, ruLIer LIun u curIosILy ubouL nuLure und nurLure. Toduy IL Is LIe Iumune democrucIes oI
ScundInuvIu LIuL ure IoLbeds oI reseurcI In beIuvIoruI geneLIcs, und Lwo oI LIe groups wIo were IIsLorIcuIIy mosL
vIcLImIzed by rucIuI pseudoscIence - Jews und AIrIcun-AmerIcuns - ure umong LIe mosL uvId consumers oI
InIormuLIon ubouL LIeIr genes.
Nor sIouId LIe scure word deLermInIsm geL In LIe wuy oI undersLundIng our geneLIc rooLs. or some condILIons, IIke
HunLIngLon`s dIseuse, geneLIc deLermInIsm Is sImpIy correcL: everyone wILI LIe deIecLIve gene wIo IIves Iong enougI
wIII deveIop LIe condILIon. BuL Ior mosL oLIer LruILs, uny InIIuence oI LIe genes wIII be probubIIIsLIc. HuvIng u versIon oI
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u gene muy cIunge LIe odds, mukIng you more or Iess IIkeIy Lo Iuve u LruIL, uII LIIngs beIng equuI, buL us we sIuII see, LIe
ucLuuI ouLcome depends on u LungIe oI oLIer cIrcumsLunces us weII.
WILI personuI genomIcs In ILs InIuncy, we cun`L know wIeLIer IL wIII deIIver usubIe InIormuLIon ubouL our psycIoIogIcuI
LruILs. BuL evIdence Irom oId-IusIIoned beIuvIoruI geneLIcs - sLudIes oI LwIns, udopLees und oLIer kInds oI reIuLIves -
suggesLs LIuL LIose genes ure In LIere somewIere. TIougI once vIIIIIed us Iruud-InIesLed crypLo-eugenIcs, beIuvIoruI
geneLIcs Ius uccumuIuLed sopIIsLIcuLed meLIodoIogIes und repIIcubIe IIndIngs, wIIcI cun LeII us Iow mucI we cun ever
expecL Lo Ieurn ubouL ourseIves Irom personuI genomIcs.
To sLudy someLIIng scIenLIIIcuIIy, you IIrsL Iuve Lo meusure IL, und psycIoIogIsLs Iuve deveIoped LesLs Ior muny menLuI
LruILs. And conLrury Lo popuIur opInIon, LIe LesLs work preLLy weII: LIey gIve u sImIIur meusuremenL oI u person every
LIme LIey ure udmInIsLered, und LIey sLuLIsLIcuIIy predIcL IIIe ouLcomes IIke scIooI und job perIormunce, psycIIuLrIc
dIugnoses und murILuI sLubIIILy. TesLs Ior InLeIIIgence mIgIL usk peopIe Lo recILe u sLrIng oI dIgILs buckwurd, deIIne u
word IIke predIcumenL, IdenLIIy wIuL un egg und u seed Iuve In common or ussembIe Iour LrIungIes InLo u squure.
PersonuIILy LesLs usk peopIe Lo ugree or dIsugree wILI sLuLemenLs IIke OILen cross LIe sLreeL In order noL Lo meeL
someone know, oILen wus In LroubIe In scIooI, BeIore do someLIIng Lry Lo consIder Iow my IrIends wIII reucL
Lo IL und PeopIe suy InsuILIng und vuIgur LIIngs ubouL me. PeopIe`s unswers Lo u Iurge seL oI LIese quesLIons Lend Lo
vury In IIve mujor wuys: openness Lo experIence, conscIenLIousness, exLruversIon, ugreeubIeness (us opposed Lo
unLugonIsm) und neuroLIcIsm. TIe scores cun LIen be compured wILI LIose oI reIuLIves wIo vury In reIuLedness und
IumIIy buckgrounds.
TIe mosL promInenL IIndIng oI beIuvIoruI geneLIcs Ius been summurIzed by LIe psycIoIogIsL ErIc TurkIeImer: TIe
nuLure-nurLure debuLe Is over. . . . AII Iumun beIuvIoruI LruILs ure IerILubIe. By LIIs Ie meunL LIuL u subsLunLIuI IrucLIon
oI LIe vurIuLIon umong IndIvIduuIs wILIIn u cuILure cun be IInked Lo vurIuLIon In LIeIr genes. WIeLIer you meusure
InLeIIIgence or personuIILy, reIIgIosILy or poIILIcuI orIenLuLIon, LeIevIsIon wuLcIIng or cIgureLLe smokIng, LIe ouLcome Is
LIe sume. denLIcuI LwIns (wIo sIure uII LIeIr genes) ure more sImIIur LIun IruLernuI LwIns (wIo sIure IuII LIeIr genes
LIuL vury umong peopIe). BIoIogIcuI sIbIIngs (wIo sIure IuII LIose genes Loo) ure more sImIIur LIun udopLed sIbIIngs
(wIo sIure no more genes LIun do sLrungers). And IdenLIcuI LwIns sepuruLed uL bIrLI und ruIsed In dIIIerenL udopLIve
Iomes (wIo sIure LIeIr genes buL noL LIeIr envIronmenLs) ure uncunnIIy sImIIur.
BeIuvIoruI geneLIcIsLs IIke TurkIeImer ure quIck Lo udd LIuL muny oI LIe dIIIerences umong peopIe cunnoL be uLLrIbuLed
Lo LIeIr genes. IrsL umong LIese ure LIe eIIecLs oI cuILure, wIIcI cunnoL be meusured by LIese sLudIes becuuse uII LIe
purLIcIpunLs come Irom LIe sume cuILure, LypIcuIIy mIddIe-cIuss Europeun or AmerIcun. TIe ImporLunce oI cuILure Is
obvIous Irom LIe sLudy oI IIsLory und unLIropoIogy. TIe reuson LIuL mosL oI us don`L cIuIIenge eucI oLIer Lo dueIs or
worsIIp our uncesLors or cIug down u nIce wurm gIuss oI cow urIne Ius noLIIng Lo do wILI genes und everyLIIng Lo do
wILI LIe mIIIeu In wIIcI we grew up. BuL LIIs sLIII Ieuves LIe quesLIon oI wIy peopIe In LIe sume cuILure dIIIer Irom one
unoLIer.
AL LIIs poInL beIuvIoruI geneLIcIsLs wIII poInL Lo duLu sIowIng LIuL even wILIIn u sIngIe cuILure, IndIvIduuIs ure sIuped by
LIeIr envIronmenLs. TIIs Is unoLIer wuy oI suyIng LIuL u Iurge IrucLIon oI LIe dIIIerences umong IndIvIduuIs In uny LruIL
you cure Lo meusure do noL correIuLe wILI dIIIerences umong LIeIr genes. BuL u Iook uL LIese nongeneLIc cuuses oI our
psycIoIogIcuI dIIIerences sIows LIuL IL`s Iur Irom cIeur wIuL LIIs envIronmenL Is.
BeIuvIoruI geneLIcs Ius repeuLedIy Iound LIuL LIe sIured envIronmenL - everyLIIng LIuL sIbIIngs growIng up In LIe
sume Iome Iuve In common, IncIudIng LIeIr purenLs, LIeIr neIgIborIood, LIeIr Iome, LIeIr peer group und LIeIr scIooI
- Ius Iess oI un InIIuence on LIe wuy LIey Lurn ouL LIun LIeIr genes. n muny sLudIes, LIe sIured envIronmenL Ius no
meusurubIe InIIuence on LIe uduIL uL uII. SIbIIngs reured LogeLIer end up no more sImIIur LIun sIbIIngs reured upurL, und
udopLIve sIbIIngs reured In LIe sume IumIIy end up noL sImIIur uL uII. A Iurge cIunk oI LIe vurIuLIon umong peopIe In
InLeIIIgence und personuIILy Is noL predIcLubIe Irom uny obvIous IeuLure oI LIe worId oI LIeIr cIIIdIood.
TIInk oI u puIr oI IdenLIcuI LwIns you know. TIey ure probubIy IIgIIy sImIIur, buL LIey ure cerLuInIy noL
IndIsLInguIsIubIe. TIey cIeurIy Iuve LIeIr own personuIILIes, und In some cuses one LwIn cun be guy und LIe oLIer
sLruIgIL, or one scIIzopIrenIc und LIe oLIer noL. BuL wIere couId LIese dIIIerences Iuve come Irom? NoL Irom LIeIr
genes, wIIcI ure IdenLIcuI. And noL Irom LIeIr purenLs or sIbIIngs or neIgIborIood or scIooI eILIer, wIIcI were uIso, In
mosL cuses, IdenLIcuI. BeIuvIoruI geneLIcIsLs uLLrIbuLe LIIs mysLerIous vurIuLIon Lo LIe nonsIured or unIque
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envIronmenL, buL LIuL Is jusL u Iudge IucLor InLroduced Lo muke LIe numbers udd up Lo 1oo percenL.
No one knows wIuL LIe nongeneLIc cuuses oI IndIvIduuIILy ure. PerIups peopIe ure sIuped by modIIIcuLIons oI genes LIuL
Luke pIuce uILer concepLIon, or by IupIuzurd IIucLuuLIons In LIe cIemIcuI soup In LIe womb or LIe wIrIng up oI LIe bruIn
or LIe expressIon oI LIe genes LIemseIves. Even In LIe sImpIesL orgunIsms, genes ure noL Lurned on und oII IIke
cIockwork buL ure subjecL Lo u IoL oI rundom noIse, wIIcI Is wIy geneLIcuIIy IdenLIcuI IruIL IIIes bred In conLroIIed
IuboruLory condILIons cun end up wILI unpredIcLubIe dIIIerences In LIeIr unuLomy. TIIs geneLIc rouIeLLe musL be even
more sIgnIIIcunL In un orgunIsm us compIex us u Iumun, und IL LeIIs us LIuL LIe Lwo LrudILIonuI sIupers oI u person,
nuLure und nurLure, musL be uugmenLed by u LIIrd one, bruLe cIunce.
TIe dIscoverIes oI beIuvIoruI geneLIcs cuII Ior unoLIer udjusLmenL Lo our LrudILIonuI concepLIon oI u nuLure-nurLure
cockLuII. A common IIndIng Is LIuL LIe eIIecLs oI beIng brougIL up In u gIven IumIIy ure someLImes deLecLubIe In
cIIIdIood, buL LIuL LIey Lend Lo peLer ouL by LIe LIme LIe cIIId Ius grown up. TIuL Is, LIe reucI oI LIe genes uppeurs Lo
geL sLronger us we uge, noL weuker. PerIups our genes uIIecL our envIronmenLs, wIIcI In Lurn uIIecL ourseIves. Young
cIIIdren ure uL LIe mercy oI purenLs und Iuve Lo udupL Lo u worId LIuL Is noL oI LIeIr cIoosIng. As LIey geL oIder,
Iowever, LIey cun gruvILuLe Lo LIe mIcroenvIronmenLs LIuL besL suIL LIeIr nuLures. Some cIIIdren nuLuruIIy Iose
LIemseIves In LIe IIbrury or LIe IocuI woods or LIe neuresL compuLer; oLIers IngruLIuLe LIemseIves wILI LIe jocks or LIe
goLIs or LIe cIurcI youLI group. WIuLever geneLIc quIrks IncIIne u youLI Lowurd one nIcIe or unoLIer wIII be mugnIIIed
over LIme us LIey deveIop LIe purLs oI LIemseIves LIuL uIIow LIem Lo IIourIsI In LIeIr cIosen worIds. AIso mugnIIIed ure
LIe uccIdenLs oI IIIe (cuLcIIng or droppIng u buII, ucIng or IIubbIng u LesL), wIIcI, uccordIng Lo LIe psycIoIogIsL JudILI
RIcI HurrIs, muy IeIp expIuIn LIe seemIngIy rundom componenL oI personuIILy vurIuLIon. TIe envIronmenL, LIen, Is noL
u sLumpIng mucIIne LIuL pounds us InLo u sIupe buL u cuIeLerIu oI opLIons Irom wIIcI our genes und our IIsLorIes
IncIIne us Lo cIoose.
AII LIIs seLs LIe sLuge Ior wIuL we cun expecL Irom personuI genomIcs. Our genes ure u bIg purL oI wIuL we ure. BuL even
knowIng LIe LoLuIILy oI geneLIc predIcLors, LIere wIII be muny LIIngs ubouL ourseIves LIuL no genome scun - und Ior LIuL
muLLer, no demogrupIIc cIeckIIsL - wIII ever reveuI. WILI LIese bookends In mInd, roIIed up my sIeeve, drooIed InLo u
coupIe oI vIuIs und uwuILed LIe resuILs oI LIree unuIyses oI my DNA.
TIe ouLpuL oI u compIeLe genome scun wouId be u IIsL oI sIx bIIIIon A`s, C`s, G`s und T`s - u muILIgIgubyLe IIIe LIuL Is sLIII
proIIbILIveIy expensIve Lo generuLe und LIuL, by ILseII, wIII uIwuys be perIecLIy useIess. TIuL Is wIy mosL personuI
genomIcs venLures ure sLurLIng wILI smuIIer porLIons oI LIe genome LIuL promIse Lo conLuIn nuggeLs oI InLerpreLubIe
InIormuLIon.
TIe PersonuI Genome ProjecL Is begInnIng wILI LIe exome: LIe 1 percenL oI our genome LIuL Is LrunsIuLed InLo sLrIngs oI
umIno ucIds LIuL ussembIe LIemseIves InLo proLeIns. ProLeIns muke up our pIysIcuI sLrucLure, cuLuIyze LIe cIemIcuI
reucLIons LIuL keep us uIIve und reguIuLe LIe expressIon oI oLIer genes. TIe vusL mujorILy oI IerILubIe dIseuses LIuL we
currenLIy undersLund InvoIve LIny dIIIerences In one oI LIe exons LIuL coIIecLIveIy muke up LIe exome, so IL`s u IogIcuI
pIuce Lo sLurL.
OnIy u porLIon oI my exome Ius been sequenced by LIe P.G.P. so Iur, none oI IL LerrIbIy InLeresLIng. BuL dId Iuce u
decIsIon LIuL wIII conIronL every genome consumer. MosL genes IInked Lo dIseuse nudge LIe odds oI deveIopIng LIe
IIIness up or down u bIL, und wIen LIe odds ure Increused, LIere Is u recommended course oI ucLIon, IIke more IrequenL
LesLIng or u prevenLIve drug or u IIIesLyIe cIunge. BuL u Iew genes ure perIecL sLorms oI bud news: IIgI odds oI
deveIopIng u IorrIbIe condILIon LIuL you cun do noLIIng ubouL. HunLIngLon`s dIseuse Is one exumpIe, und muny peopIe
wIose IumIIy IIsLorIes puL LIem uL rIsk (IIke ArIo GuLIrIe, wIose IuLIer, Woody, dIed oI LIe dIseuse) cIoose noL Lo Ieurn
wIeLIer LIey curry LIe gene.
AnoLIer exumpIe Is LIe upoIIpoproLeIn E gene (APOE). NeurIy u quurLer oI LIe popuIuLIon currIes one copy oI LIe Eq
vurIunL, wIIcI LrIpIes LIeIr rIsk oI deveIopIng AIzIeImer`s dIseuse. Two percenL oI peopIe curry Lwo copIes oI LIe gene
(one Irom eucI purenL), wIIcI Increuses LIeIr rIsk IIILeenIoId. Jumes WuLson, wIo wILI runcIs CrIck dIscovered LIe
sLrucLure oI DNA und wIo wus one oI LIe IIrsL Lwo Iumuns Lo Iuve IIs genome sequenced, usked noL Lo see wIIcI
vurIunL Ie Iud.
As IL Lurns ouL, we know wIuL Iuppens Lo peopIe wIo do geL LIe worsL news. AccordIng Lo preIImInury IIndIngs by LIe
epIdemIoIogIsL RoberL C. Green, LIey don`L sInk InLo despuIr or LIrow LIemseIves oII brIdges; LIey IundIe IL perIecLIy
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weII. TIIs sIouId noL be LerrIbIy surprIsIng. AII oI us uIreudy IIve wILI LIe knowIedge LIuL we Iuve LIe IuLuI geneLIc
condILIon cuIIed morLuIILy, und mosL oI us cope usIng some combInuLIon oI denIuI, resIgnuLIon und reIIgIon. SLIII,
IIgured LIuL my currenL burden oI exIsLenLIuI dreud Is jusL ubouL rIgIL, so IoIIowed WuLson`s Ieud und usked Ior u
IIne-ILem veLo oI my APOE gene InIormuLIon wIen LIe P.G.P. sequencer geLs Lo IL.
TIe genes unuIyzed by u new compuny cuIIed CounsyI ure more ucLIonubIe, us LIey suy In LIe Lrude. TIeIr unIversuI
currIer screen Is meunL Lo LeII prospecLIve purenLs wIeLIer LIey curry genes LIuL puL LIeIr poLenLIuI cIIIdren uL rIsk Ior
more LIun u Iundred serIous dIseuses IIke cysLIc IIbrosIs und uIpIu LIuIussemIu. I boLI purenLs Iuve u copy oI u
recessIve dIseuse gene, LIere Is u one-In-Iour cIunce LIuL uny cIIId LIey conceIve wIII deveIop LIe dIseuse. WILI LIIs
knowIedge LIey cun cIoose Lo udopL u cIIId InsLeud or Lo undergo In-vILro IerLIIIzuLIon und screen LIe embryos Ior LIe
dungerous genes. L`s u scuIed-up versIon oI LIe Tuy-SucIs LesL LIuL AsIkenuzI Jews Iuve undergone Ior decudes.
Iuve known sInce 1q;z LIuL um cIeun Ior Tuy-SucIs, buL LIe CounsyI screen sIowed LIuL curry one copy oI u gene Ior
IumIIIuI dysuuLonomIu, un IncurubIe dIsorder oI LIe uuLonomIc nervous sysLem LIuL cuuses u number oI unpIeusunL
sympLoms und u IIgI cIunce oI premuLure deuLI. A weII-meunIng coIIeugue LrIed Lo consoIe me, buL wus pIeused Lo
guIn LIe knowIedge. CIIIdren ure noL In my curds, buL my nIeces und nepIews, wIo Iuve u z percenL cIunce oI beIng
currIers, wIII know Lo geL LesLed. And cun sIuL LIe door Lo wIuLever wIsLIuIness muy Iuve Iud ubouL my cIIIdIessness.
TIe gene wus noL dIscovered unLII zoo1, weII uILer LIe cIoIce conIronLed me, so my roud noL Luken couId Iuve Ied Lo
Lrugedy. BuL perIups LIuL`s LIe wuy you LIInk II you ure open Lo experIence und noL Loo neuroLIc.
umIIIuI dysuuLonomIu Is Iound uImosL excIusIveIy umong AsIkenuzI Jews, und zundMe provIded uddILIonuI cIues Lo
LIuL uncesLry In my genome. My mILocIondrIuI DNA (wIIcI Is pussed InLucL Irom moLIer Lo oIIsprIng) Is specIIIc Lo
AsIkenuzI popuIuLIons und Is sImIIur Lo ones Iound In SepIurdIc und OrIenLuI Jews und In Druze und Kurds. My Y
cIromosome (wIIcI Is pussed InLucL Irom IuLIer Lo son) Is uIso evunLIne, common umong AsIkenuzI, SepIurdIc und
OrIenLuI Jews und uIso sprInkIed ucross LIe eusLern MedILerruneun. BoLI vurIunLs urose In LIe MIddIe EusL more LIun
z,ooo yeurs ugo und were probubIy currIed Lo regIons In LuIy by JewIsI exIIes uILer LIe Romun desLrucLIon oI
JerusuIem, LIen Lo LIe RIIne VuIIey In LIe MIddIe Ages und eusLwurd Lo LIe PuIe oI SeLLIemenL In PoIund und MoIdovu,
endIng up In my IuLIer`s IuLIer und my moLIer`s moLIer u cenLury ugo.
L`s LIrIIIIng Lo IInd yourseII so LungIbIy connecLed Lo Lwo mIIIennIums oI IIsLory. And even LIIs secuIur, ecumenIcuI Jew
experIenced u prImILIve LrIbuI sLIrrIng In IeurnIng oI u deep geneuIogy LIuL coIncIdes wILI LIe IundIng down oI LrudILIons
grew up wILI. BuL my bIue eyes remInd me noL Lo geL currIed uwuy wILI deIusIons ubouL u SemILIc essence.
MILocIondrIuI DNA, und LIe Y cIromosome, do noL IILeruIIy LeII you ubouL your uncesLry buL onIy IuII oI your uncesLry
u generuLIon ugo, u quurLer Lwo generuLIons ugo und so on, sIrInkIng exponenLIuIIy LIe IurLIer buck you go. n IucL, sInce
LIe IurLIer buck you go LIe more uncesLors you LIeoreLIcuIIy Iuve (eIgIL greuL-grundpurenLs, sIxLeen greuL-greuL-
grundpurenLs und so on), uL some poInL LIere uren`L enougI uncesLors Lo go uround, everyone`s uncesLors overIup wILI
everyone eIse`s, und LIe very concepL oI personuI uncesLry becomes meunIngIess. Iound IL jusL us LIrIIIIng Lo zoom
ouLwurd In LIe dIugrums oI my geneLIc IIneuge und see my pIuce In u IumIIy Lree LIuL embruces uII oI IumunILy.
As IuscInuLIng us currIer screenIng und uncesLry ure, LIe reuIIy new IeuLure oIIered by zundMe Is ILs geneLIc reporL curd.
TIe compuny dIrecLs you Lo u Web puge LIuL dIspIuys rIsk IucLors Ior 1q dIseuses und 1o LruILs, und IInks Lo puges Ior un
uddILIonuI 1 dIseuses und z1 LruILs Ior wIIcI LIe scIenLIIIc evIdence Is more IIIy. CurIous users cun browse u IIsL oI
murkers Irom LIe resL oI LIeIr genomes wILI u LIIrd-purLy progrum LIuL seurcIes u wIkI oI gene-LruIL ussocIuLIons LIuL
Iuve been reporLed In LIe scIenLIIIc IILeruLure. Iound LIe sILe user-IrIendIy und scIenLIIIcuIIy responsIbIe. TIIs cIurILy,
LIougI, mude IL eusy Lo see LIuL personuI genomIcs Ius u Iong wuy Lo go beIore IL wIII be u sIgnIIIcunL LooI oI
seII-dIscovery.
TIe Lwo bIggesL pIeces oI news goL ubouL my dIseuse rIsks were u 1z.6 percenL cIunce oI geLLIng prosLuLe cuncer beIore
Lurn 8o compured wILI LIe uveruge rIsk Ior wIILe men oI 1;.8 percenL, und u z6.8 percenL cIunce oI geLLIng Type z
dIubeLes compured wILI LIe uveruge rIsk oI z1.q percenL. MosL oI LIe oLIer ouLcomes InvoIved even smuIIer depurLures
Irom LIe norm. or u bIessedIy uveruge person IIke me, IL Is compIeLeIy uncIeur wIuL Lo do wILI LIese odds. A
one-In-Iour cIunce oI deveIopIng dIubeLes sIouId muke uny prudenL person wuLcI IIs weIgIL und oLIer rIsk IucLors. BuL
LIen so sIouId u one-In-IIve cIunce.
L becume uII LIe more conIusIng wIen browsed Ior genes beyond LIose on LIe summury puge. BoLI LIe P.G.P. und LIe
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genome browser Lurned up sLudIes LIuL IInked vurIous oI my genes Lo un eIevuLed rIsk oI prosLuLe cuncer, deIIuLIng my
InILIuI reIIeI uL LIe Iowered rIsk. AssessIng rIsks Irom genomIc duLu Is noL IIke usIng u pregnuncy-LesL kIL wILI ILs brIgIL
bIue IIne. L`s more IIke wrILIng u Lerm puper on u LopIc wILI u Iuge und cIuoLIc reseurcI IILeruLure. You ure wIIpsuwed
by conLrudIcLory sLudIes wILI dIIIerenL sumpIe sIzes, uges, sexes, eLInIcILIes, seIecLIon crILerIu und IeveIs oI sLuLIsLIcuI
sIgnIIIcunce. GeneLIcIsLs workIng Ior zundMe sIIL LIrougI LIe journuIs und muke LIeIr besL judgmenLs oI wIIcI
ussocIuLIons ure soIId. BuL LIese judgmenLs ure necessurIIy subjecLIve, und LIey cun quIckIy become obsoIeLe now LIuL
cIeup genoLypIng LecInIques Iuve opened LIe IIoodguLes Lo new sLudIes.
DIrecL-Lo-consumer compunIes ure someLImes uccused oI peddIIng recreuLIonuI geneLIcs, und LIere`s no denyIng LIe
IoroscopeIIke IuscInuLIon oI IeurnIng ubouL genes LIuL predIcL your LruILs. WIo wouIdn`L be IIuLLered Lo Ieurn LIuL Ie Ius
Lwo genes ussocIuLed wILI IIgIer .Q. und one IInked Lo u LusLe Ior noveILy? L Is uIso sLrungeIy vuIIduLIng Lo Ieurn LIuL
Iuve genes Ior LruILs LIuL uIreudy know Iuve, IIke IIgIL skIn und bIue eyes. TIen LIere ure LIe genes Ior LruILs LIuL
seem pIuusIbIe enougI buL muke LIe wrong predIcLIon ubouL Iow IIve my IIIe, IIke my genes Ior LusLIng LIe bILLerness
In broccoII, beer und brusseIs sprouLs ( consume LIem uII), Ior IucLose-InLoIerunce ( seem Lo LoIeruLe Ice creum jusL
IIne) und Ior IusL-LwILcI muscIe IIbers ( preIer IIkIng und cycIIng Lo buskeLbuII und squusI). uIso Iuve genes LIuL ure
noLIIng Lo brug ubouL (IIke uveruge memory perIormunce und Iower eIIIcIency uL IeurnIng Irom errors), ones wIose
meunIngs ure u bIL buIIIIng (IIke u gene LIuL gIves me LypIcuI odds Ior IuvIng red IuIr, wIIcI don`L Iuve), und ones
wIose predIcLIons ure IIuL-ouL wrong (IIke u IIgI rIsk oI buIdness).
or uII LIe nurcIssIsLIc pIeusure LIuL comes Irom porIng over cIues Lo my Inner mukeup, soon reuIIzed LIuL wus usIng
my knowIedge oI myseII Lo muke sense oI LIe geneLIc reudouL, noL LIe oLIer wuy uround. My noveILy-seekIng gene, Ior
exumpIe, Ius been ussocIuLed wILI u cIusLer oI LruILs LIuL IncIudes ImpuIsIvILy. BuL don`L LIInk `m purLIcuIurIy
ImpuIsIve, so InLerpreL LIe gene us LIe cuuse oI my openness Lo experIence. BuL LIen IL muy be IIke LIuL buIdness gene,
und suy noLIIng ubouL me uL uII.
ndIvIduuI genes ure jusL noL very InIormuLIve. CuII IL Geno`s Purudox. We know Irom cIussIc medIcuI und beIuvIoruI
geneLIcs LIuL muny pIysIcuI und psycIoIogIcuI LruILs ure subsLunLIuIIy IerILubIe. BuL wIen scIenLIsLs use LIe IuLesL
meLIods Lo IIsI Ior LIe responsIbIe genes, LIe cuLcI Is puILry.
Tuke IeIgIL. TIougI IeuILI und nuLrILIon cun uIIecL sLuLure, IeIgIL Is IIgIIy IerILubIe: no one LIInks LIuL Kureem AbduI-
Jubbur jusL uLe more WIeuLIes growIng up LIun Dunny DeVILo. HeIgIL sIouId LIereIore be u LurgeL-rIcI ureu In LIe
seurcI Ior genes, und In zoo; u genomewIde scun oI neurIy 16,ooo peopIe Lurned up u dozen oI LIem. BuL LIese genes
coIIecLIveIy uccounLed Ior jusL z percenL oI LIe vurIuLIon In IeIgIL, und u person wIo Iud mosL oI LIe genes wus bureIy un
IncI LuIIer, on uveruge, LIun u person wIo Iud Iew oI LIem. I LIuL`s LIe besL we cun do Ior IeIgIL, wIIcI cun be ussessed
wILI u Lupe meusure, wIuL cun we expecL Ior more eIusIve LruILs IIke InLeIIIgence or personuIILy?
Geno`s Purudox enLuIIs LIuL upurL Irom currIer screenIng, personuI genomIcs wIII be more recreuLIonuI LIun dIugnosLIc
Ior some LIme Lo come. Some reusons ure LecInoIogIcuI. TIe uIIordubIe genoLypIng servIces don`L ucLuuIIy sequence your
enLIre genome buL IoIIow LIe LIme-Ionored scIenLIIIc prucLIce oI IookIng Ior one`s keys under LIe IumpposL becuuse
LIuL`s wIere LIe IIgIL Is besL. TIey scun Ior IuII u mIIIIon or so spoLs on LIe genome wIere u sIngIe nucIeoLIde (IuII u
rung on LIe DNA Iudder) Is IIkeIy Lo dIIIer Irom one person Lo LIe nexL. TIese dIIIerences ure cuIIed SIngIe NucIeoLIde
PoIymorpIIsms, or SNPs (pronounced snIps), und LIey cun be cIeupIy IdenLIIIed en musse by puLLIng u doIIop oI
someone`s DNA on u devIce cuIIed u mIcrourruy or SNP cIIp. A SNP cun be u vurIunL oI u gene, or cun serve us u sIgnposL
Ior vurIunLs oI u gene LIuL ure neurby.
BuL noL uII geneLIc vurIuLIon comes In LIe Iorm oI LIese one-IeLLer Lypos. A mucI Iurger porLIon oI our genomes vurIes In
oLIer wuys. A cIunk oI DNA muy be mIssIng or InverLed or dupIIcuLed, or u LIny subsLrIng muy be repeuLed dIIIerenL
numbers oI LImes - suy, IIve LImes In one person und seven LImes In unoLIer. TIese vurIuLIons ure known Lo cuuse
dIseuses und dIIIerences In personuIILy, buL unIess LIey uccompuny u purLIcuIur SNP, LIey wIII noL Lurn up on u SNP
cIIp.
As sequencIng LecInoIogy Improves, more oI our genomIc vurIuLIons wIII come InLo vIew. BuL deLermInIng wIuL LIose
vurIunLs meun Is unoLIer muLLer. A good duy Ior geneLIcIsLs Is one In wIIcI LIey Iook Ior genes LIuL Iuve nIce bIg eIIecLs
und LIuL ure Iound In muny peopIe. BuL remember LIe mInuscuIe InIIuence oI eucI oI LIe genes LIuL uIIecLs sLuLure.
TIere muy be Iundreds oI oLIer sucI genes, eucI uIIecLIng IeIgIL by un even smuIIer smIdgen, buL IL Is Iurd Lo dIscern
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LIe genes In LIIs Iong LuII oI LIe dIsLrIbuLIon umId LIe cucopIony oI LIe enLIre genome. And so IL muy be Ior LIe
Iundreds or LIousunds oI genes LIuL muke you u Leensy bIL smurLer or duIIer, cuImer or more jILLery.
AnoLIer kInd oI IeuducIe Ior geneLIcIsLs comes Irom gene vurIunLs LIuL do Iuve Iurge eIIecLs buL LIuL ure unIque Lo you
or Lo some LIny IrucLIon oI IumunILy. TIese, Loo, ure Iurd Lo spoL In genomewIde scuns. Suy you Iuve u unIque geneLIc
vurIunL LIuL gIves you bIg eurs. TIe probIem Is LIuL you Iuve oLIer unIque genes us weII. SInce IL wouId be IILeruIIy
ImpossIbIe Lo ussembIe u Iurge sumpIe oI peopIe wIo do und don`L Iuve LIe crucIuI gene und wIo do und don`L Iuve bIg
eurs, LIere Is no wuy Lo know wIIcI oI your proprIeLury genes Is LIe cuIprIL. I we undersLood LIe moIecuIur ussembIy
IIne by wIIcI eurs were puL LogeLIer In LIe embryo, we couId IdenLIIy LIe gene by wIuL IL does ruLIer LIun by wIuL IL
correIuLes wILI. BuL wILI mosL LruILs, LIuL`s noL yeL possIbIe - noL Ior eurs, und cerLuInIy noL Ior u sense oI Iumor or u
gIIL oI gub or u sweeL dIsposILIon. n IucL, LIe roud Lo dIscovery In bIoIogy oILen goes In LIe oLIer dIrecLIon. BIoIogIsLs
dIscover LIe geneLIc puLIwuys LIuL buIId un orgun by spoLLIng genes LIuL correIuLe wILI dIIIerenL Iorms oI IL und LIen
seeIng wIuL LIey do.
So Iow IIkeIy Is IL LIuL IuLure upgrudes Lo consumer genomIcs kILs wIII Lurn up murkers Ior psycIoIogIcuI LruILs? TIe
unswer depends on wIy we vury In LIe IIrsL pIuce, un unsoIved probIem In beIuvIoruI geneLIcs. And LIe unswer muy be
dIIIerenL Ior dIIIerenL psycIoIogIcuI LruILs.
n LIeory, we sIouId IurdIy dIIIer uL uII. NuLuruI seIecLIon works IIke compound InLeresL: u gene wILI even u 1 percenL
udvunLuge In LIe number oI survIvIng oIIsprIng IL yIeIds wIII expund geomeLrIcuIIy over u Iew Iundred generuLIons und
quIckIy crowd ouL ILs Iess Iecund uILernuLIves. WIy dIdn`L LIIs wInnowIng Ieuve eucI oI us wILI LIe besL versIon oI every
gene, mukIng eucI oI us us vIgorous, smurL und weII udjusLed us Iumun pIysIoIogy uIIows? TIe worId wouId be u duIIer
pIuce, buL evoIuLIon doesn`L go ouL oI ILs wuy Lo keep us enLerLuIned.
L`s LempLIng Lo suy LIuL socIeLy us u wIoIe prospers wILI u mIxLure oI LInkers, LuIIors, soIdIers, suIIors und so on. BuL
evoIuLIon seIecLs umong genes, noL socIeLIes, und II LIe genes LIuL muke LInkers ouLreproduce LIe genes LIuL muke
LuIIors, LIe LInker genes wIII become u monopoIy. A beLLer wuy oI LIInkIng ubouL geneLIc dIversILy Is LIuL II everyone
were u LInker, IL wouId puy Lo Iuve LuIIor genes, und LIe LuIIor genes wouId sLurL Lo muke un Inroud, buL LIen us socIeLy
IIIIed up wILI LuIIor genes, LIe udvunLuge wouId sIIIL buck Lo LIe LInkers. A resuIL wouId be un equIIIbrIum wILI u cerLuIn
proporLIon oI LInkers und u cerLuIn proporLIon oI LuIIors. BIoIogIsLs cuII LIIs process buIuncIng seIecLIon: Lwo desIgns Ior
un orgunIsm ure equuIIy IIL, buL In dIIIerenL pIysIcuI or socIuI envIronmenLs, IncIudIng LIe envIronmenLs LIuL consIsL oI
oLIer members oI LIe specIes. OILen LIe cIoIce beLween versIons oI sucI u LruIL Is governed by u sIngIe gene, or u Iew
udjucenL genes LIuL ure InIerILed LogeLIer. I InsLeud LIe LruIL were conLroIIed by muny genes, LIen durIng sexuuI
reproducLIon LIose genes wouId geL uII mIxed up wILI LIe genes Irom LIe oLIer purenL, wIo mIgIL Iuve LIe uILernuLIve
versIon oI LIe LruIL. Over severuI generuLIons LIe genes Ior LIe Lwo desIgns wouId be LIorougIIy scrumbIed, und LIe
specIes wouId be IomogenIzed.
TIe psycIoIogIsLs urs Penke, Juup DenIssen und GeoIIrey MIIIer urgue LIuL personuIILy dIIIerences urIse Irom LIIs
process oI buIuncIng seIecLIon. SeIIIsI peopIe prosper In u worId oI nIce guys, unLII LIey become so common LIuL LIey
sLurL Lo swIndIe one unoLIer, wIereupon nIce guys wIo cooperuLe geL LIe upper Iund, unLII LIere ure enougI oI LIem
Ior LIe swIndIers Lo expIoIL, und so on. TIe sume buIuncIng ucL cun Iuvor rebeIs In u worId oI conIormIsLs und vIce-versu,
or doves In u worId oI Iuwks.
TIe opLImuI personuIILy muy uIso depend on LIe opporLunILIes und rIsks presenLed by dIIIerenL envIronmenLs. TIe eurIy
bIrd geLs LIe worm, buL LIe second mouse geLs LIe cIeese. An envIronmenL LIuL Ius worms In some purLs buL
mouseLrups In oLIers couId seIecL Ior u mIxLure oI go-geLLers und nervous neIIIes. More pIuusIbIy, IL seIecLs Ior orgunIsms
LIuL snIII ouL wIuL kInd oI envIronmenL LIey ure In und Lune LIeIr boIdness uccordIngIy, wILI dIIIerenL IndIvIduuIs
seLLIng LIeIr dunger LIresIoId uL dIIIerenL poInLs.
BuL noL uII vurIuLIon In nuLure urIses Irom buIuncIng seIecLIon. TIe oLIer reuson LIuL geneLIc vurIuLIon cun persIsL Is LIuL
rusL never sIeeps: new muLuLIons creep InLo LIe genome IusLer LIun nuLuruI seIecLIon cun weed LIem ouL. AL uny gIven
momenL, LIe popuIuLIon Is Iuden wILI u porLIoIIo oI recenL muLuLIons, eucI oI wIose duys ure numbered. TIIs SIsypIeun
sLruggIe beLween seIecLIon und muLuLIon Is common wILI LruILs LIuL depend on muny genes, becuuse LIere ure so muny
LIIngs LIuL cun go wrong.
Penke, DenIssen und MIIIer urgue LIuL u muLuLIon-seIecLIon sLundoII Is LIe expIunuLIon Ior wIy we dIIIer In InLeIIIgence.
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UnIIke personuIILy, wIere IL Lukes uII kInds Lo muke u worId, wILI InLeIIIgence, smurLer Is sImpIy beLLer, so buIuncIng
seIecLIon Is unIIkeIy. BuL InLeIIIgence depends on u Iurge neLwork oI bruIn ureus, und IL LIrIves In u body LIuL Is properIy
nourIsIed und Iree oI dIseuses und deIecLs. Muny genes ure enguged In keepIng LIIs sysLem goIng, und so LIere ure muny
genes LIuL, wIen muLuLed, cun muke us u IILLIe bIL sLupIder.
AL LIe sume LIme LIere uren`L muny muLuLIons LIuL cun muke us u wIoIe IoL smurLer. MuLuLIons In generuI ure Iur more
IIkeIy Lo be IurmIuI LIun IeIpIuI, und LIe Iurge, IeIpIuI ones were Iow-IungIng IruIL LIuL were pIcked Iong ugo In our
evoIuLIonury IIsLory und enLrencIed In LIe specIes. One reuson Ior LIIs cun be expIuIned wILI un unuIogy InspIred by LIe
muLIemuLIcIun RonuId IsIer. A Iurge LwIsL oI u IocusIng knob Ius some cIunce oI brIngIng u mIcroscope InLo beLLer
Iocus wIen IL Is Iur Irom LIe besL seLLIng. BuL us LIe burreI geLs cIoser Lo LIe LurgeL, smuIIer und smuIIer Lweuks ure
needed Lo brIng uny IurLIer ImprovemenL.
TIe PenkeJDenIssenJMIIIer LIeory, wIIcI uLLrIbuLes vurIuLIon In personuIILy und InLeIIIgence Lo dIIIerenL evoIuLIonury
processes, Is consIsLenL wILI wIuL we Iuve Ieurned so Iur ubouL LIe genes Ior LIose Lwo kInds oI LruILs. TIe seurcI Ior
.Q. genes cuIIs Lo mInd LIe curLoon In wIIcI u scIenLIsL wILI u smoIderIng LesL Lube usks u coIIeugue, WIuL`s LIe
opposILe oI Eureku? TIougI we know LIuL genes Ior InLeIIIgence musL exIsL, eucI Is IIkeIy Lo be smuII In eIIecL, Iound In
onIy u Iew peopIe, or boLI. n u recenL sLudy oI 6,ooo cIIIdren, LIe gene wILI LIe bIggesL eIIecL uccounLed Ior Iess LIun
one-quurLer oI un .Q. poInL. TIe quesL Ior genes LIuL underIIe mujor dIsorders oI cognILIon, IIke uuLIsm und
scIIzopIrenIu, Ius been uImosL us IrusLruLIng. BoLI condILIons ure IIgIIy IerILubIe, yeL no one Ius IdenLIIIed genes LIuL
cuuse eILIer condILIon ucross u wIde runge oI peopIe. PerIups LIIs Is wIuL we sIouId expecL Ior u IIgI-muInLenunce LruIL
IIke Iumun cognILIon, wIIcI Is vuInerubIe Lo muny muLuLIons.
TIe IunL Ior personuIILy genes, LIougI noL yeL NobeI-worLIy, Ius Iud beLLer IorLunes. SeveruI ussocIuLIons Iuve been
Iound beLween personuIILy LruILs und genes LIuL govern LIe breukdown, recycIIng or deLecLIon oI neuroLrunsmILLers (LIe
moIecuIes LIuL seep Irom neuron Lo neuron) In LIe bruIn sysLems underIyIng mood und moLIvuLIon.
DopumIne Is LIe moIecuIur currency In severuI bruIn cIrcuILs ussocIuLed wILI wunLIng, geLLIng suLIsIucLIon und puyIng
uLLenLIon. TIe gene Ior one kInd oI dopumIne recepLor, DRDq, comes In severuI versIons. Some oI LIe vurIunLs (IIke LIe
one Iuve) Iuve been ussocIuLed wILI upproucI reIuLed personuIILy LruILs IIke noveILy seekIng, sensuLIon seekIng und
exLruversIon. A gene Ior unoLIer kInd oI recepLor, DRDz, comes In u versIon LIuL mukes ILs dopumIne sysLem IuncLIon
Iess eIIecLIveIy. L Ius been ussocIuLed wILI ImpuIsIvILy, obesILy und subsLunce ubuse. SLIII unoLIer gene, COMT, produces
un enzyme LIuL breuks down dopumIne In LIe preIronLuI corLex, LIe Iome oI IIgIer cognILIve IuncLIons IIke reusonIng
und pIunnIng. I your versIon oI LIe gene produces Iess COMT, you muy Iuve beLLer concenLruLIon buL mIgIL uIso be
more neuroLIc und jILLery.
BeIuvIoruI geneLIcIsLs Iuve uIso LruIned LIeIr sIgILs on seroLonIn, wIIcI Is Iound In bruIn cIrcuILs LIuL uIIecL muny
moods und drIves, IncIudIng LIose uIIecLed by Prozuc und sImIIur drugs. SERT, LIe seroLonIn LrunsporLer, Is u moIecuIe
LIuL scoops up sLruy seroLonIn Ior recycIIng, reducIng LIe umounL uvuIIubIe Lo ucL In LIe bruIn. TIe swILcI Ior LIe gene
LIuL mukes SERT comes In Iong und sIorL versIons, und LIe sIorL versIon Ius been IInked Lo depressIon und unxIeLy. A
zoo sLudy mude IeudIInes becuuse IL suggesLed LIuL LIe gene muy uIIecL u person`s resIIIence Lo IIIe`s sLressors ruLIer
LIun gIvIng LIem u Lendency Lo be depressed or conLenL ucross LIe bourd. PeopIe wIo Iud Lwo sIorL versIons oI LIe gene
(one Irom eucI purenL) were IIkeIy Lo Iuve u mujor depressIve epIsode onIy II LIey Iud undergone LruumuLIc
experIences; LIose wIo Iud u more pIucId IIsLory were IIne. n conLrusL, peopIe wIo Iud Lwo Iong versIons oI LIe gene
LypIcuIIy IuIIed Lo reporL depressIon regurdIess oI LIeIr IIIe IIsLorIes. n oLIer words, LIe eIIecLs oI LIe gene ure sensILIve
Lo u person`s envIronmenL. PsycIoIogIsLs Iuve Iong known LIuL some peopIe ure resIIIenL Lo IIIe`s sIIngs und urrows und
oLIers ure more IrugIIe, buL LIey Iud never seen LIIs InLerucLIon pIuyed ouL In LIe eIIecLs oI IndIvIduuI genes.
SLIII oLIer genes Iuve been ussocIuLed wILI LrusL und commILmenL, or wILI u Lendency Lo unLIsocIuI ouLbursLs. L`s sLIII u
messy scIence, wILI pIenLy oI IuIse uIurms, conLrudIcLory resuILs und LIny eIIecLs. BuL consumers wIII probubIy Ieurn oI
genes IInked Lo personuIILy beIore LIey see uny LIuL ure reIIubIy connecLed Lo InLeIIIgence.
PersonuI genomIcs Is Iere Lo sLuy. TIe scIence wIII Improve us eIIorLs IIke LIe PersonuI Genome ProjecL umuss Iuge
sumpIes, LIe prIce oI sequencIng sInks und bIoIogIsLs come Lo u beLLer undersLundIng oI wIuL genes do und wIy LIey
vury. PeopIe wIo Iuve grown up wILI LIe democruLIzuLIon oI InIormuLIon wIII noL LoIeruLe puLernuIIsLIc reguIuLIons LIuL
keep LIem Irom LIeIr own genomes, und eurIy udopLers wIII expIore Iow LIIs new InIormuLIon cun besL be used Lo
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munuge our IeuILI. TIere ure rIsks oI mIsundersLundIngs, buL LIere ure uIso rIsks In mucI oI LIe IIImIIum we LoIeruLe In
uILernuLIve medIcIne, und In LIe IuncIes und IoIkIore LIuL muny docLors preIer Lo evIdence-bused medIcIne. And
besIdes, personuI genomIcs Is jusL Loo mucI Iun.
AL LIe sume LIme, LIere Is noLIIng IIke perusIng your geneLIc duLu Lo drIve Iome ILs IImILuLIons us u source oI InsIgIL InLo
yourseII. WIuL sIouId muke oI LIe nonsensIcuI news LIuL um probubIy IIgIL-skInned buL Iuve u LwoIoId rIsk oI
buIdness? TIese dIugnoses, oI course, ure sImpIy peeIed oII LIe duLu In u sLudy: qo percenL oI men wILI LIe C versIon oI
LIe rsz18oqq SNP ure buId, compured wILI 8o percenL oI men wILI LIe T versIon, und Iuve LIe T. BuL someLIIng
sLrunge Iuppens wIen you Luke u number represenLIng LIe proporLIon oI peopIe In u sumpIe und uppIy IL Lo u sIngIe
IndIvIduuI. TIe IIrsL use oI LIe number Is perIecLIy respecLubIe us un InpuL InLo u poIIcy LIuL wIII opLImIze LIe cosLs und
beneIILs oI LreuLIng u Iurge sImIIur group In u purLIcuIur wuy. BuL LIe second use oI LIe number Is jusL pIuIn weIrd.
Anyone wIo knows me cun conIIrm LIuL `m noL 8o percenL buId, or even 8o percenL IIkeIy Lo be buId; `m 1oo percenL
IIkeIy noL Lo be buId. TIe mosL cIurILubIe InLerpreLuLIon oI LIe number wIen uppIIed Lo me Is, I you knew noLIIng eIse
ubouL me, your subjecLIve conIIdence LIuL um buId, on u scuIe oI o Lo 1o, sIouId be 8. BuL LIuL Is u sLuLemenL ubouL
your menLuI sLuLe, noL my pIysIcuI one. I you Ieurned more cIues ubouL me (IIke seeIng pIoLogrupIs oI my IuLIer und
grundIuLIers), LIuL number wouId cIunge, wIIIe noL u IuIr on my Ieud wouId be dIIIerenL. Some muLIemuLIcIuns suy
LIuL LIe probubIIILy oI u sIngIe evenL Is u meunIngIess concepL.
Even wIen LIe eIIecL oI some gene Is IndubILubIe, LIe sIeer compIexILy oI LIe seII wIII meun LIuL IL wIII noL serve us un
orucIe on wIuL LIe person wIII do. TIe gene LIuL IeLs me LusLe propyILIIourucII, zundMe suggesLs, mIgIL muke me
dIsIIke LonIc wuLer, coIIee und durk beer. UnIIke LIe Lenuous genes IInked Lo personuIILy or InLeIIIgence, LIIs one codes
Ior u sIngIe LusLe-bud recepLor, und don`L doubL LIuL IL IeLs me LusLe LIe bILLerness. So wIy Iusn`L IL sLopped me Irom
enjoyIng LIose drInks? PresumubIy IL`s becuuse uduILs geL u sopIIsLIcuLed pIeusure Irom udmInIsLerIng conLroIIed doses
oI uversIve sLImuII Lo LIemseIves. `ve ucquIred u LusLe Ior Beck`s Durk; oLIers enjoy suunus, rock-cIImbIng, LIrIIIers or
dIssonunL musIc. SImIIurIy, wIy don`L conIorm Lo Lype und expIoIL LIose IusL-LwILcI muscIe IIbers (LIunks, ACTN
genes!) In squusI or buskeLbuII, ruLIer LIun wusLIng LIem on IIkIng? A Iuck oI coordInuLIon, u Iove oI LIe ouLdoors, un
IncIInuLIon Lo duydreum, uII oI LIe ubove? TIe seII Is u byzunLIne bureuucrucy, und no gene cun pusI LIe buLLons oI
beIuvIor by ILseII. You cun uLLrIbuLe LIe ubIIILy Lo deIy our genoLypes Lo Iree wIII, wIuLever LIuL meuns, buL you cun uIso
uLLrIbuLe IL Lo LIe IucL LIuL In u Iundred-LrIIIIon-synupse Iumun bruIn, uny sIngIe InIIuence cun be ouLweIgIed by LIe
producL oI uII oI LIe oLIers.
Even II personuI genomIcs someduy deIIvers u deLuIIed prInLouL oI psycIoIogIcuI LruILs, IL wIII probubIy noL cIunge
everyLIIng, or even mosL LIIngs. L wIII gIve us deeper InsIgIL ubouL LIe bIoIogIcuI cuuses oI IndIvIduuIILy, und IL muy
nurrow LIe guesswork In ussessIng IndIvIduuI cuses. BuL LIe Issues ubouL seII und socIeLy LIuL IL brIngs InLo Iocus Iuve
uIwuys been wILI us. We Iuve uIwuys known LIuL peopIe ure IIubIe, Lo vuryIng degrees, Lo unLIsocIuI LempLuLIons und
weukness oI LIe wIII. We Iuve uIwuys known LIuL peopIe sIouId be encouruged Lo deveIop LIe purLs oI LIemseIves LIuL
LIey cun (u mun`s reucI sIouId exceed IIs grusp) buL LIuL IL`s IooIIsI Lo expecL LIuL unyone cun uccompIIsI unyLIIng (u
mun Ius goL Lo know IIs IImILuLIons). And we know LIuL IoIdIng peopIe responsIbIe Ior LIeIr beIuvIor wIII muke IL more
IIkeIy LIuL LIey beIuve responsIbIy. My genes mude me do IL Is no beLLer un excuse LIun We`re depruved on uccounL
oI we`re deprIved.
Muny oI LIe dysLopIun Ieurs ruIsed by personuI genomIcs ure sImpIy ouL oI LoucI wILI LIe compIex und probubIIIsLIc
nuLure oI genes. orgeL ubouL LIe IyperpurenLs wIo wunL Lo ImpIunL muLI genes In LIeIr unborn cIIIdren, LIe GuLLucu
corporuLIons LIuL scun peopIe`s DNA Lo ussIgn LIem Lo cusLes, LIe empIoyers or suILors wIo Iuck InLo your genome Lo
IInd ouL wIuL kInd oI worker or spouse you`d muke. eL LIem Lry; LIey`d be wusLIng LIeIr LIme.
TIe reuI-IIIe exumpIes ure uImosL us IuLIIe. WIen LIe connecLIon beLween LIe ACTN gene und muscIe Lype wus
dIscovered, purenLs und coucIes sLurLed swubbIng LIe cIeeks oI cIIIdren so LIey couId sLeer LIe ones wILI LIe
IusL-LwILcI vurIunL InLo sprInLIng und IooLbuII. CurI osLer, one oI LIe scIenLIsLs wIo uncovered LIe ussocIuLIon, Iud u
beLLer Ideu: JusL IIne LIem up wILI LIeIr cIussmuLes Ior u ruce und see wIIcI ones ure LIe IusLesL. Good udvIce. TIe LesL
Ior u gene cun IdenLIIy one oI LIe conLrIbuLors Lo u LruIL. A meusuremenL oI LIe LruIL ILseII wIII IdenLIIy uII oI LIem: LIe
oLIer genes (muny or Iew, dIscovered or undIscovered, undersLood or noL undersLood), LIe wuy LIey InLerucL, LIe eIIecLs
oI LIe envIronmenL und LIe cIIId`s unIque IIsLory oI deveIopmenLuI quIrks.
L`s our essenLIuIIsL mInd-seL LIuL mukes LIe cIeek swub IeeI us II IL Is someIow u deeper, Lruer, more uuLIenLIc LesL oI
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LIe cIIId`s ubIIILy. L`s noL LIuL LIe mInd-seL Is uLLerIy mIsguIded. Our genomes LruIy ure u IundumenLuI purL oI us. TIey
ure wIuL muke us Iumun, IncIudIng LIe dIsLIncLIveIy Iumun ubIIILy Lo Ieurn und creuLe cuILure. TIey uccounL Ior uL IeusL
IuII oI wIuL mukes us dIIIerenL Irom our neIgIbors. And LIougI we cun cIunge boLI InIerILed und ucquIred LruILs,
cIungIng LIe InIerILed ones Is usuuIIy Iurder. L Is u quesLIon oI LIe mosL perspIcuous IeveI oI unuIysIs uL wIIcI Lo
undersLund u compIex pIenomenon. You cun`L undersLund LIe sLock murkeL by sLudyIng u sIngIe Lruder, or u movIe by
puLLIng u DVD under u mIcroscope. TIe IuIIucy Is noL In LIInkIng LIuL LIe enLIre genome muLLers, buL In LIInkIng LIuL un
IndIvIduuI gene wIII muLLer, uL IeusL In u wuy LIuL Is Iurge und InLeIIIgIbIe enougI Ior us Lo cure ubouL.
So II you ure bILLen by scIenLIIIc or personuI curIosILy und cun LIInk In probubIIILIes, by uII meuns enjoy LIe IruILs oI
personuI genomIcs. BuL II you wunL Lo know wIeLIer you ure uL rIsk Ior IIgI cIoIesLeroI, Iuve your cIoIesLeroI
meusured; II you wunL Lo know wIeLIer you ure good uL muLI, Luke u muLI LesL. And II you reuIIy wunL Lo know yourseII
(und LIIs wIII be LIe LesL oI Iow mucI you do), consIder LIe suggesLIon oI runoIs u RocIeIoucuuId: Our enemIes`
opInIon oI us comes cIoser Lo LIe LruLI LIun our own.
Steten Pinler is Hcrtcrd Collee projessor oj pscholo ct Hcrtcrd Unitersit cnd the cuthor oj The Stujj oj
Thouht: Lcnuce cs c Windou Into Humcn Ncture.
Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company
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