Are Your Genes To Blame For You Being Single?

As the festive season is upon us, for many singles out there the thought of having the same conversation with your batty old relatives fills them with candy cane flavoured dread.

“What, you’re not STILL single are you?”

Well Nan, yes I am but it’s not my fault – it’s actually down to my genes.

Researchers in Beijing have discovered a gene that makes carriers 20 per cent more likely to fly solo.

The 5-HTA1 gene lowers the levels of serotonin in the brain – the chemical that regulates our moods, thus is sometimes referred to as the happy hormone.

Lower levels of serotonin can make people less comfortable in close relationships or prevent individuals from forming them at all.

Almost 600 Chinese university students were surveyed for the gene, with researches collecting and analysing hair samples.

The 5-HTA1 gene comes in two versions – G and C – and 60 per cent of those with the G strand were not in a relationship, compared to 50 per cent of those with the C strand.

What makes the findings so interesting is that this correlation couldn’t be explained by other factors like attractiveness or wealth, leading researchers to claim this gene held the key.

Thanks to lower levels of serotonin, those with the G version of the gene were also more likely to be neurotic and depressed.

“As pessimism and neuroticism are detrimental to the formation, quality and stability of relationships, this connection between the G allele and psychological disorders might decrease carriers’ dating opportunities or lead to romantic relationship failure,” claim the researchers in the journal Scientific Reports.

But before all the singles out there throw in the towel and list yourself as In a Relationship with Netflix on Facebook, it’s important to remember that genes only play a very small role in our emotional connections.

Of course it is also worth noting that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being single and some of us much prefer life on our own terms, thank you very much.

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