Have you ever had a friend that you were so close with that you thought of that friend as part of your family? Ever wondered why you feel this way? It turns out there may be genetic markers that you, and your closest friends, share. This suggests that we unconsciously select friends based on genetic traits.
It’s best when friendships happen naturally. You meet someone who you just “click with”. The two of you might share some common interests such as a love of movies, or an interest in gardening. However, it is not only the shared interest that has caused you and your friend to become so strongly connected. When this happens, it is not easy to put into words exactly why the two of you feel as close as family.
Even though you are not blood related to your closest friends, it turns out that it is very likely that you share some genetic traits with them. A study looked at two groups. One group was adolescents, and the other group was adults. These groups were tested for the presence of six specific genetic markers. Researchers found that friends had two of these six markers in common.
This gets more interesting when you take a look at the DRD2 gene. Those who have the DRD2 gene have a genetic tendency towards developing alcoholism. The study revealed that people who have the DRD2 gene tend to form friendships with other people who also have the DRD2 gene. Those that didn’t have that particular gene tended to make friends with people who also did not have the DRD2 gene. You cannot tell simply by looking at someone whether or not that person has the DRD2 gene, and most people have no idea if they happen to have that gene. People unconsciously were selecting friends who had similar genetics to themselves.
A person who has the DRD2 gene might be directly influenced to drink because he or she is genetically susceptible to alcoholism. That same person could be indirectly influenced to drink because the person has selected friends who also have the DRD2 gene, and who also are genetically susceptible to alcoholism. If you know that alcoholism runs in your family, you might want to learn more about the people whom your teenager has made friends with. Your teenager could have unknowingly selected a group of friends who all have the DRD2 gene, just like they do.
The same study also found that there was a correlation that showed that opposites attract. There is a gene called CYAP26 that is associated with having an open personality. People who have the CYAP26 gene tended to have friends who did not have the CYAP26 gene. The study suggests that it isn’t just the genetics of your family that you need to be aware of, but also the genetics of your closest friends.
Image by Martin Cathrae on Flickr