Is There a CEO Gene?

Can you be biologically disposed to being in charge?

People with a certain gene could be more inclined to become a chief executive, according to a study into a dopamine transporter called DAT1 – but it’s not a free ride to the top.

Researchers at Kansas State University found that people who have a version of the gene called the 10-repeat allele were more likely to “engage in adolescent mild rule-breaking behaviour”.

This propensity to ruffle a few feathers at a young age – bunking lessons rather than gun crime, the study suggested – is a characteristic associated with leadership, the scientists said.

“Mild rule-breaking is actually positively correlated with the chance for you to become a leader in adulthood,” said Wendong Li, assistant professor of psychological sciences at KSU, who worked on the research. “These kinds of behaviors can provide you with an advantage because they allow adolescents to explore boundaries and learn something new.”

Read more: The Telegraph

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