I'm not sure if it's a gene or not but I think environment/experience comes into play and I also think everyone's brain is just wired to excel at different things.
My Dad had no "fix it" skill at all. I have an uncle on my mom's side that did most of the remodeling/fix it work around our house for a good meal and some beers while dad would assist and be the gopher. I learned a ton from him as a teen about construction, electrical and a little plumbing. Enough to have me grow an interest in it. So I'm the guy for our family to work on things when something broke. An I can usually fix it after a little investigation into how it's supposed to work, why it isn't and how can I repair it.
Youtube is helpful in many instances.
That said, I'm clearly a left side of the brain guy. Logical, Reasoning, Math, Science, Language, etc.
That Right side stuff (Art/Music talents, Imagination, etc.), That stuff is like DAVID COPPERFIELD MAGIC to me. When I see someone talented in those areas I'm in awe because I am as inept at that as they may be at fixing my stereo's broken ground wire. My stick figures still look like they did when I was 7.
