A new research has revealed that musical abilities of human beings can be determined by their DNA. Several genes that detect and interpret sounds are actually responsible for affecting musical aptitude, said researchers.

The research team was led by Adjunct Professor Irma Jarvela of the University of Helsinki in Finland.

The study saw collection of blood samples from 767 people from 76 families. Participants were between seven and 94 years and some of them had a strong musical tradition.

The researchers sequenced the genetic code from the samples and compared them among volunteers to look for differences in their DNA. The volunteers were also asked to participate in three musical tests. The guinea pigs were given the task of distinguishing between notes that had slightly different notes and durations. Also, they were asked to identify sequences of notes that were slightly different from each other.

There were tiny but significant differences in several genes located on Chromosome 4 of those who performed well in the tests. These differences helped good performers to effectively determine how to hear and perceive sound.

A gene called GATA2 has one of the variants, which is important for the hair cells in the inner gear. Movement is caused in the delicate fibers on these cells as a response to different frequencies. Also, a signal is transmitted through the auditory nerve to the brain.

PCDH7 was found to have another variant, which is known to play a significant role in a part of the brain called the amygdale - a driver for how sounds are transformed into patterns.