Researchers say the pitch of your voice could be linked to your genetics

Don’t take that tone! Researchers say the pitch of your voice may be linked to your genetics after finding DNA mutation associated with people with higher timbres

  • Scientists combined voice recordings of nearly 13,000 Icelanders
  • They found that part of the DNA is associated with a higher voice

If you find that your high-pitched voice is holding you back in life, blame your parents.

For the first time, scientists have discovered a gene that determines whether your voice is hoarse and deep – or just the opposite.

In the first study of its kind, scientists combined voice recordings of nearly 13,000 Icelanders with data.

They found that part of the DNA – called ABCC9 – that is associated with a higher pitched voice in both men and women. The ABCC9 gene sequence has also been linked to heart health.

The researchers at the Icelandic company Decode Genetics say having a genetically higher voice could mean you’re more prone to heart problems.

For the first time, scientists have discovered a gene that determines whether your voice is hoarse and deep – or just the opposite

The researchers at Icelandic company Decode Genetics (pictured) say having a genetically higher voice could mean you're more susceptible to heart problems.

The researchers at Icelandic company Decode Genetics (pictured) say having a genetically higher voice could mean you’re more susceptible to heart problems.

In Science Advances, the authors write that previous research has shown that men with deeper voices may have higher levels of testosterone and upper body strength, father more, and are rated as more attractive and dominant.

Research has also shown that they lead larger companies.

The difference in pitch between the average male and female is “greater than any other monkey,” say the authors.

The authors say that the depth of male human voices likely resulted from sexual selection in the past — in other words, men with deeper voices have been more successful sexually.

It is not yet known exactly how the gene makes a voice deeper or higher.

But the ABBC9 gene has an effect on the adrenal gland, which produces several steroids known to affect voice pitch, which are later converted by the body into testosterone and other sex hormones.

The gene linked to voice pitch has also been linked to higher blood pressure and poorer heart health, the authors say.

In addition to genes that play a role in how deep or different your voice is, the authors say having a voice that varies a lot in pitch is indicative of an “open” personality and verbal fluency.

The authors also suggest that speaking in a “lively” manner rather than monotone may simply reflect “increased verbal ability” and being a better reader.

While the authors admit that the influence of genes on pitch is “small to modest,” they say the effect is comparable in magnitude to that of other inherited traits, such as major depression and personality.