Five of the studied microRNA reached a level of significance: has-miR-3909, has-miR-30d-5p, has-miR-92a-3p, has-miR-222-3p, and has-miR-30a-5p (Nair et al. It had been shown by demonstration of upregulation of microRNA fraction in peripheral blood as soon as 2 h after classical music performance. 2015) assuming that music involvement should be detectable on the cellular and molecular level. It was a starting point to study individual differences in musicality explainable by genetic background (Stewart 2008, Peretz 2016, Gingras et al. There are no doubts concerning certain involvement of some physiological, cellular, and molecular processes activated by perceiving or creating music.
Recently established molecular techniques, e.g., exploring DNA microarrays provided broad horizons that contributed vastly to results derived from classical genetic investigations. The aim of the review is to describe findings concerning genetic background of musicality. Such considerations should be also addressed to a link (or its lack) between perception and creation of music. Studies on an impact of both potential contributing factors were postulated long ago (Shuter 1966). The latter question could evolve into consideration on hereditary (genetic) versus environmental background of musicality.
Musicality and music before three professional#
Next, watching professional musicians, singers, and composers, raises the question why more talented persons are more frequent in some families and not in others. Further, an individual musicality spans from congenital amusia to absolute (perfect) pitch. A suspected common root of speech and music perception indicated for the same brain attribution within right-hand auditory cortex, prefrontal cortex, and parietal areas of the brain (Stewart 2008, Peretz 2016, Brauchli et al. As such, it is expected to share some brain functions and structures with speech. Defined as the capacity to perceive, reproduce, or create music, is recognized as a communication process involving pitch, rhythm, and timbre. Musicality attracts an attention of the general public as well as researchers because of its universal character. On the other hand, gene deletion leading to dysfunction in amusical individuals also indicated appropriate loci “by negation.” The strongest support for an association of genes with musicality was provided for genes: AVPR1 (12q14.2), SLC6A4 (17q11.2), GALM (2p22), PCDH7 (4p15.1), GATA2 (3q21.3), and few others as well for 4q22, 4q23, and 8q13–21 chromosome bands. Some studies were focused on rare ability to recognize tone without reference that is known as a perfect pitch where a far ethnic differentiation was established. Modern biomolecular techniques exploring linkage analysis, variation of gene copy number, scanning for whole-genome expression helped to identify genes, or chromosome regions associated with musical aptitude. The studies done on a random population, twins and families of gifted musicians provided a strong support for genetic contribution. Musical abilities tend to cluster in families. There is an agreement about joint genetic and environmental background of musical reception and performance.