The team analyzed DNA sequences from an earlier study completed in 2023. They calculated a “polygenic score,” which is a measure of a person’s predisposition to a particular trait or behavior. They especially took into account the ability to synchronize rhythms, which is closely related to musicality.
The results were published in the journal Current Biology. Interestingly, Beethoven, one of the most famous musicians in history, had an exceptionally polygenic score in terms of overall musicality when compared to examples from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Vanderbilt University in the United States. True, the ability to synchronize rhythms may not have directly affected Beethoven’s compositional skills, so this result is not unexpected.
Frankly, it would be wrong to conclude that Beethoven had ordinary musical talent based on his low polygonality. However, this suggests that we should be skeptical of claims that genetic testing can determine a person’s giftedness.
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Source: Ferra
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