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

International audienceIt 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