One of the things many people fear about the advancement of genetic research is that one day we might be discriminated against on the grounds of our inherited predispositions. For example, if you test positive for a genetic variation that increases the likeliness of your having a stroke early in life, you might have to pay higher insurance premiums.

Now, an article in Molecular Psychiatry reports that in addition to health problems, psychological tendencies are revealing a basis in our genetic code, and this may enable scientists to make predictions about your personality based on a genetic test.

The researchers found strong and highly significant associations between known genetic variants and the five major dimensions of personality.

These were:

Although the effect sizes were small, it’s likely that once a greater number of targets are established for each of the personality dimensions, and indeed even more specific traits in future, it will become possible to create a detailed personality map of an individual simply by analyzing their DNA.

I just hope my future employers don’t look for my conscientiousness and agreeableness genes.