Researchers Study Connections Between Genetics and Romantic Relationships

Chinese researchers are studying the association between romantic relationships and 5-HT1A gene in young adults.

There are obvious factors which influence attraction and relationships between people, such as personality, looks, and intelligence. These researchers are trying to show that genetics may contribute to the development of romantic relationships.

Pair bonding and affective affiliation (romantic behaviors) are shown to be associated with the serotonin levels in the brain. In non-human animals, decreased serotonin via the 5-HT1A gene decreases female sexual receptivity and causes aggression towards males.

The G allele of the C-1019G polymorphism (which leads to greater expression of the 5-HT1A gene) is related to decreased comfort with close/romantic relationships.

How is this related to being in a relationship? To explore this, 579 Chinese undergraduate students were studied. Cells from hair follicles were collected and DNA was extracted.

The results indicate individuals carrying the G allele (CG/GG) of C-1019G were more likely to be single than non-G, CC carriers. This agrees with the finding that G allele carriers are less comfortable in close relationships.

Actually, G allele carriers are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders (major depression, borderline personality disorder, etc.) and neurotic personalities. All of the above can hinder the formation of relationships, as well as their quality and stability. The connection between the G allele and psychological disorders may lead to fewer dating opportunities and/or unsuccessful relationships.

The researchers believe the findings of their study offer evidence that genetics can influence social relationships.

This study is interesting because it offers even more insight about how much genetics affects our lives. There are obvious things like hair color and eye color but the influence of our genes permeates all aspects, even our relationships. This makes sense because other studies (like this one) investigate how our health, which is influenced by our genes, then influences our relationships. It offers hope to people who struggle with making personal connections that we may find a way to help them connect with others around them

Article: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-11-science-romantic-relationships-gene-factor.html

Marital Satisfaction linked to Gene Variant

Researches from University of California-Berkeley did a study that suggest that a happy marriage or relationship is linked to genetics and a gene which helps in regulating serotonin can determine a persons emotional outlook on relationships. They say a gene variant, 5-HTTLPR which is inherited from parents, is linked to relationship fulfillment. It also determines how important emotions are to different people.

This study followed 156 couples from 1989 until present day, these couples are now middle aged or older.During the duration of the study each couple was asked every 5 years to come into a lab and have their marital satisfaction and interaction with one another evaluated and observed. Researches were observing conversation each couple had and wold look for facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and the topic of the conversation in which the couples were having. Out of the 156 original couple participating 125 of those couples gave DNA samples which was used to match their genotype with their own marital satisfaction and interactions with each other that were observed in the lab. The study found that couples and participants with 2 short 5-HTTLPR alleles where the most unhappy when there was to much talk and focus on negative emotional, but were the happiest when around happier emotions. Those that had 1 or 2 long alleles were less affected by the emotions that were taking place in their marriage. Neither of these alleles have a positive or negative advantage. Those who had 2 short alleles which was 17% showed a strong connection between emotions and their marriage, 83% of the couples showed no correlation between their emotions and their marriage.

I chose to write about this article because I found it interseting that how happy a person could be in a relationship is do to a gene they have and not how fulfilling the relationship may actually be. But I also found it interesting how more couples had no correlation between their emotions and their marriage. 

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267235.php