Lookout for your coffee gene!

Coffee and your genes have a strong connection - a particular gene could be playing a role in your liking for coffee, new research says.    

A small genetic variant explains why some people consume coffee by the mugfuls and why others won't drink it at all, said Enda Byrne from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR).

QIMR along with the Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands isolated the coffee gene from across the entire human genome of over 18,000 participants.

"Our study found coffee consumption is not only influenced by genes, but caffeine can also affect the expression of genes,” Byrne said, according to a Queensland statement.

“We also found a link between caffeine genes and other complex conditions, such as hypertension and Parkinson's disease.

“Our study showed there were changes in the expression of genes previously linked to Parkinson's disease after exposure to caffeine. This follows previous studies that have shown caffeine to be protective against Parkinson's disease.

“While this finding relates directly to coffee consumption, it provides another small piece of the puzzle and could lead to further discoveries around the effect of caffeine on a range of complex disorders,” concluded Byrne.