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Those with two sets of the gene—one from each parent—are almost twice as likely to say they are
satisfied with life, compared to those who lack a copy.
The gene, called 5-HTT, is 1)responsible for how well 2)nerve cells manage to 3)distribute 4)serotonin, a chemical produced by the 5)pineal gland in the brain which helps control mood.
People with low levels of serotonin—itself
nicknamed the “happiness drug”—are more likely to be depressed.
Now, 6)behavioural economists at the London School of Economic and Political Science have found
evidence that people with the “7)functional” 8)variant of the 5-HTT gene tend to lead happier lives.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve and colleagues asked more than 2,500 people in the US about how satisfied they were with life, and also 9)analysed their DNA for
presence of the gene.
The 5-HTT gene provides the “operating code” for transporting serotonin in 10)neuron cell walls.
The “long” version of the gene leads to more
serotonin transporters in these walls, the “short” version less of them.
As we 11)inherit a set of genes from both parents, the possible combinations of this are “long-long,” “long-short” or “short-short.”
The results showed that a much higher 12)proportion of those with the efficient (long-long) version of the gene were either very satisfied (35%) or satisfied (34%) with their life—compared to 19% in both categories for those with the less efficient (short-short) form.
The study is published in the Journal of Human Genetics.
Mr. De Neve said: “It has long been suspected that this gene plays a role in mental health, but this is the first study to show that it is important in shaping our individual happiness levels.
“The results of our study suggest a strong link between happiness and this functional variation in the 5-HTT gene.
“Of course, our 13)well-being isn’t determined by this one gene—other genes and especially experience throughout the course of life will continue to explain the majority of variation in individual happiness.
“But this finding helps to explain why we each have a unique 14)baseline level of happiness and why some people tend to be naturally happier than others, and that’s in no small part due to our individual genetic make-up.”
从父母双方各继承一个“幸福基因”、从而拥有一对这种基因的人，可能比只拥有一个“幸福基因”的人要幸福
一倍。
这种名为“5-HTT”的基因能够影响神经细胞调配血清素的能力。血清素由脑部松果体分泌，是一种有助于控制情绪的化学物质。
血清素又被称为“快乐药水”。血清素水平低的人更容易产生抑郁情绪。
现在，伦敦经济政治学院的行为经济学家已经发现证据，证明具有5-HTT基因“功能性”变体的人更易过上幸福的生活。
扬-伊曼纽尔·德内弗及其同事就人们对生活的满意度访问了二千五百多名美国人，并分析了他们的DNA以确定其5-HTT基因的携带情况。
5-HTT基因为血清素在神经细胞壁内的运输提供“操作码”。
“长”的5-HTT基因能增加细胞壁内的血清素运输体数量，而“短”的5-HTT基因则相反。
我们从父母双方各继承一个基因，可能会产生“长-长”、“长-短”和“短-短”几种基因组合。
结果显示，拥有“高效基因组合”（即“长-长”组合）的人对生活感到非常满意（占35%）或者满意（占34%）的比例比拥有“低效基因组合”（即“短-短”组合）的人高得多——后者对生活感到非常满意和满意的各占19%。
该项研究发表于《人类基因学
杂志》。
德内弗先生说：“长期以来，人们就一直认为该基因与心理健康有关。然而，这还是首个显示其对个人幸福感的塑造起着重要作用的研究。
“我们的研究结果显示，幸福感与5-HTT基因的这种功能性变体密切相关。
“当然，我们的福祉并非单单由这种基因决定；其他的基因——尤其是人生中的经历，也能够解释个人幸福感的绝大部分差异。
“但这个发现有助于解释为何我们都有独一无二的幸福感基准，以及为何有些人天生比其他人更快乐，这不少是取决于个人的基因组成。”
satisfied with life, compared to those who lack a copy.
The gene, called 5-HTT, is 1)responsible for how well 2)nerve cells manage to 3)distribute 4)serotonin, a chemical produced by the 5)pineal gland in the brain which helps control mood.
People with low levels of serotonin—itself
nicknamed the “happiness drug”—are more likely to be depressed.
Now, 6)behavioural economists at the London School of Economic and Political Science have found
evidence that people with the “7)functional” 8)variant of the 5-HTT gene tend to lead happier lives.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve and colleagues asked more than 2,500 people in the US about how satisfied they were with life, and also 9)analysed their DNA for
presence of the gene.
The 5-HTT gene provides the “operating code” for transporting serotonin in 10)neuron cell walls.
The “long” version of the gene leads to more
serotonin transporters in these walls, the “short” version less of them.
As we 11)inherit a set of genes from both parents, the possible combinations of this are “long-long,” “long-short” or “short-short.”
The results showed that a much higher 12)proportion of those with the efficient (long-long) version of the gene were either very satisfied (35%) or satisfied (34%) with their life—compared to 19% in both categories for those with the less efficient (short-short) form.
The study is published in the Journal of Human Genetics.
Mr. De Neve said: “It has long been suspected that this gene plays a role in mental health, but this is the first study to show that it is important in shaping our individual happiness levels.
“The results of our study suggest a strong link between happiness and this functional variation in the 5-HTT gene.
“Of course, our 13)well-being isn’t determined by this one gene—other genes and especially experience throughout the course of life will continue to explain the majority of variation in individual happiness.
“But this finding helps to explain why we each have a unique 14)baseline level of happiness and why some people tend to be naturally happier than others, and that’s in no small part due to our individual genetic make-up.”
从父母双方各继承一个“幸福基因”、从而拥有一对这种基因的人，可能比只拥有一个“幸福基因”的人要幸福
一倍。
这种名为“5-HTT”的基因能够影响神经细胞调配血清素的能力。血清素由脑部松果体分泌，是一种有助于控制情绪的化学物质。
血清素又被称为“快乐药水”。血清素水平低的人更容易产生抑郁情绪。
现在，伦敦经济政治学院的行为经济学家已经发现证据，证明具有5-HTT基因“功能性”变体的人更易过上幸福的生活。
扬-伊曼纽尔·德内弗及其同事就人们对生活的满意度访问了二千五百多名美国人，并分析了他们的DNA以确定其5-HTT基因的携带情况。
5-HTT基因为血清素在神经细胞壁内的运输提供“操作码”。
“长”的5-HTT基因能增加细胞壁内的血清素运输体数量，而“短”的5-HTT基因则相反。
我们从父母双方各继承一个基因，可能会产生“长-长”、“长-短”和“短-短”几种基因组合。
结果显示，拥有“高效基因组合”（即“长-长”组合）的人对生活感到非常满意（占35%）或者满意（占34%）的比例比拥有“低效基因组合”（即“短-短”组合）的人高得多——后者对生活感到非常满意和满意的各占19%。
该项研究发表于《人类基因学
杂志》。
德内弗先生说：“长期以来，人们就一直认为该基因与心理健康有关。然而，这还是首个显示其对个人幸福感的塑造起着重要作用的研究。
“我们的研究结果显示，幸福感与5-HTT基因的这种功能性变体密切相关。
“当然，我们的福祉并非单单由这种基因决定；其他的基因——尤其是人生中的经历，也能够解释个人幸福感的绝大部分差异。
“但这个发现有助于解释为何我们都有独一无二的幸福感基准，以及为何有些人天生比其他人更快乐，这不少是取决于个人的基因组成。”