Human communication and media behaviors have consistently been found to be impacted by latent genetic factors as well as factors of the social environment. Meanwhile, the field of genetics research is rapidly advancing (Ayorech et al., 2016). Despite the advantages provided by genetic methodologies, the next endeavor for communication scholars is identifying the specific genes and gene-interactions involved in impacting human and media communication behaviors. This working group will explore available scientific tools to identify latent factors affecting media-related gratifications, fear, hope, happiness, and interpersonal communication. Key questions to be addressed include: 1) What can genes and genetic variation tell us about communication patterns? 2) How does DNA interact with other biological systems like neurological and pathways to impact communication behavior and expressed emotions? 3) What tools can communication scholars utilize to expand this literature within our discipline? My goal is for us to ask new questions about communication theories and methods, and explore the possible solutions and answers provided by the growing world of microbiology and molecular genetics.