It's 10 a.m. Do you know where your coffee is?
If you're one of the many people who start their day with a cup of joe steaming by their side, you might be able to blame genetics for your addiction. According to a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports, a gene known as PDSS2 "has been shown to negatively regulate the expression of the caffeine metabolism genes and can thus be linked to coffee consumption."
In layman's terms? Certain genes play a part in breaking down caffeine in the body, and a certain variant of the PDSS2 gene was found to apparently slow the metabolism of caffeine. That means that for those people, the caffeine "lingers in the blood for longer and gives people a more enduring 'hit' for every cup," The Guardian explains.
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The study was conducted across two Italian populations — but when its conclusions were cross-checked with results from a study conducted among individuals from the Netherlands, the effect of the PDSS2 gene appeared to be weaker. Researchers theorize the discrepancy could be due to different preferences for coffee between Italy and the Netherlands, The Guardian notes. And this isn't the first time scientists have tried to link genetics to the mad-dash for coffee: Way back in 2014, CNN reported on a purported coffee gene.
The moral of the story? Drink up — no one will blame you for a lack of willpower if it's just your genetic fate.
