The effect of the 7R allele on the DRD4 risk tolerance locus is independent of background risk in Senegalese fishermen

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  • The effect of the 7R allele on the DRD4 risk tolerance locus is independent of background risk in Senegalese fishermen
9 January 2023
By CEE-M

It has been shown that living in risky environments, as well as having a risky occupation, can moderate risk-tolerance. Despitethe involvement of dopamine in the expectation of reward described by neurobiologists, a GWAS study was not able todemonstrate a genetic contribution of genes involved in the dopaminergic pathway in risk attitudes and gene candidate studiesgave contrasting results. We test the possibility that a genetic effect of the DRD4-7R allele in risk-taking behavior could bemodulated by environmental factors. We show that the increase in risk-tolerance due to the 7R allele is independent of theenvironmental risk in two populations in Northern Senegal, one of which is exposed to a very high risk due to dangerous fishing.