Q2. The serotonin transporter is a cell-surface protein that recycles the neurotransmitter serotonin after it has been used to carry a message between nerve cell in the brain. There are two alleles of the serotonin transporter gene: s and l. Klaus-Peter Lesch and colleagues (1996) found that people with genotypes ls and ss ,score slightly, but significantly, higher than people with genotype ll on psychological tests of neuroticism (see F9.35).
a. Are these data consistent with the hypothesis that the serotonin transporter gene is a QTL that influences neuroticism? Explain.
b. Is the serotonin transporter gene the gene for neuroticism? Explain.
c. Can you think of another plausible explanation, in which the serotonin transporter gene plays no role at all in neuroticism? Explain.
Neuroticism is a fundamental personality trait in the study of psychology characterized by anxiety, fear, moodiness, worry, envy, frustration, jealousy, and loneliness.