07 Jun

Tendency To Smile in the Genes?

Have you ever been around someone who just seems to be a genuinely happy and almost unusually cheerful person? Or maybe you are that person and wonder why people around you don’t seem to smile quite as much as you do naturally. Many people might point to the environment where one was raised as a key factor, however a recent scientific study is adding a few extra beans on the nature side of the scale versus the nurture. Here is why some of us want to show off the pearly whites we keep pristine at Lifetime Family Dental, your local dentist in Gilbert, a little bit more.

People who find joy and smile at the simple things could be linked to our genes. The study found that those with short alleles of the gene 5-HTTLPR laughed and smiled more than those with long alleles of that gene. The gene is involved in the regulation of serotonin – a neurotransmitter that is thought to be involved in mood, social behavior, appetite, sleep, memory, fun, and sexual desire.

These researchers also conducted an earlier study that showed people with these shorter alleles of that specific gene showed more sympathy to their significant other’s emotions – positive or negative. The author that previous study came to the conclusion that our DNA is actually a defining factor in when it comes to a happy marriage. Overall, over the course of these two studies it is evident that this short allele of 5-HTTLPR amplifies emotional reactions to both the good and the bad.

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (6/7/2015) David Amsler (Flickr)