Marilyn Cornelis is a research associate in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health and the lead author of a study that found genetic variants linked with coffee consumption habits. This is not the first substance to be studied for genetic connections to our practiced behavior, similarly smoking and alcohol consumption behaviors can genetically influenced. Read details of this amazing study and how it correlates with people’s DNA below.
The study is currently the largest of its kind, according to Cornelis. It analyzed the results of more than 120,000 participants who described how much coffee they drank a day and allowed their DNA to be scanned. The study looked for differences in their DNA associated with drinking more or less coffee.
Researchers found eight gene variants, two of which had already been linked to coffee consumption.
Four of the six new variants implicate genes that are involved with caffeine, either in how the body breaks it down or in its stimulating effects, the researchers said in a paper released Tuesday by the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
SRC: Learn more about this research in USA TODAY’s article: Coffee consumption: It’s in your DNA.