Leadership can be an inherited trait, study says

A new study suggests that leadership skills can be inherited.

Researchers at University College London, Harvard and New York University found that a DNA sequence that is passed through one's genes is linked to individuals in leadership positions.

The study compared two large studies within the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

It looked at genetic samples of 4000 people that also contained information about their jobs and relationships, said Science Daily.

Researchers found that a genotype called rs4950 was directly linked with leadership, namely supervisory roles at work.

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"We have identified a genotype, called rs4950, which appears to be associated with the passing of leadership ability down through generations," said study author Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, according to IANS.

"The conventional wisdom – that leadership is a skill – remains largely true, but we show it is also, in part, a genetic trait."

Researchers said that more study is needed to prove the genotype's role in creating leaders – namely better understanding one's upbringing in developing those skills.

The findings were published in the journal Leadership Quarterly.

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