The ability to dance could lie in a person's genes.
Dancing ability depends on the genes
The first large-scale study into the link between musical rhythm and genetics discovered that there are 69 genetic variants relating to the ability to move in time with a beat.
The research revealed that 16 per cent of an individual's flair on the dance floor can be attributed to hereditary genes, meaning people are likely to inherit dodgy dance moves from their parents.
The study from the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute in Nashville found that rhythm does not depend on musical training or the type of music being listened to.
Co-author Lea Davis said: "This is novel groundwork towards understanding the biology underlying how musicality relates to other health traits."
Researcher Dr. David Hinds added: "These findings represent a leap forward for scientific understanding of the links between genetics and musicality."