If it seems you are permanently¹ single while everyone else around you is in a relationship, blame your DNA².

如果你发现身边的人都成双成对而就你是长时间的单身狗，那么都是你的DNA惹的祸。

Scientists have identified a ‘singleton gene’, and found that those who have it are 20 per cent more likely to be single than others.

科学家们发现了一种“单身基因”并发现，带有这种基因的人比其他人单身的几率高20%。

It is thought that by lowering levels of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, the gene³ makes people less comfortable in close relationships.

研究发现基因控制大脑中使人感觉良好的血清素分泌下降，使得人们在亲密的关系中变得拘谨。

This could make it harder to form them in the first place - or lead to break-up after break-up.

这使得他们最初就不太容易开始一段感情——或者在分手之后再经历分手。

The scientists from Peking University in Beijing tested hair samples from almost 600 Chinese university students to analyse a gene called 5-HTA1, which comes in two different versions.

北京大学的科学家从600名中国大学生的头发样本中分析了这种名为5-HTA1的基因，发现基因有两种不同的版本。

Those with the ‘G’ version were much more likely to be single than those with the ‘C’ version.

“G”基因的人比“C”基因的人更容易独身。

Some 60 per cent were not in a relationship - compared to 50 per cent of those in the c group.

C基因组里只有50%的人单身，但是G组里有60%。

Importantly, the link couldn’t be explained by other factors that influence relationships, including appearance and wealth.

重要的是，这种关联不能以其他影响人际关系的因素，比如外貌和财富来解释。

The key to the findings seems to be the role of the 5-HTA1 gene in the brain.

核心研究表明是大脑中的5-HTA1基因在作怪。

Those with the ‘G’, or singleton, version make less serotonin, a brain chemical involved in mood and happiness.

那些带有G基因，或者说独身基因版本的分泌的血清素较少，这种血清素是大脑中分泌的控制情绪和幸福感的化学物质。

It was already known that people with the ‘G’ allele, or version, find it more difficult to get close to others.

研究已经表明了带有G等位基因的人更不容易和人亲近。

Plus, they are more likely to be neurotic⁴ and to suffer from depression.

而且，他们更有可能变成神经病患者而且患上抑郁症。

Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, the researchers said: ‘As pessimism⁵ and neuroticism⁶ are detrimental⁷ to the formation, quality and stability of relationships, this connection between the G allele and psychological disorders⁸ might decrease carriers’ dating opportunities or lead to romantic relationship failure.’

科学报告》杂志提到，研究者们说：“因为悲观主义和神经质对于人际交往的构成、质量和稳定性有害，G等位基因和心理失调的联系可能会减少携带者约会的机率或者导致交往失败。”

The researchers said that students may have more free time and freedom to form relationships than others.

研究者们提到，学生比其他人更有时间和经历去搭建人际交往关系。

And at other times of life, other factors, such as pressure from parents to marry, may be much more influential⁹.

而在人生中的其他阶段，其余的比如父母要求结婚的压力因素，则更有影响力一些。

Despite this, they concluded that their study provides ‘evidence for genetic¹⁰ contribution to social relationships in certain contexts’.

另外，他们总结道这项研究为“基因影响社交”提供了证据。

Other scientists said that while genes¹¹ will inevitably¹² influence relationships, their role in most cases will be small.

而另一些科学家认为，虽然基因不可避免的对人际交往产生影响，他们的作用在大多数案例中发挥的几率很小。

Dr Pam Spurr, a relationship expert, said that we don’t have to let our genes rule our lives.

人际关系专家帕姆·斯博尔博士说道：我们不要让基因控制我们的生活。

She said: ‘I know that our genetic heritage determines some of our behaviour but we always have choice.

她说：“我知道我们的基因传统决定我们的一些生活习惯，但是我们总是有选择的。

‘If someone’s difficulties with dating are flagged up to them, I believe they can learn to interact in a way that will make them more successful in meeting somebody.“

如果有人将约会不顺归咎于此，我相信他们可以学着和人互动从而在交往上变得更顺利。

‘I feel quite optimistic about that.’

“我对此很乐观。”

Professor Tim Spector, an expert in the role of genes from King’s College London, questioned how strong the research was.

伦敦国王学院的基因教授蒂姆·斯佩克特对这项研究的可信度打了个问号。

However, studies show that our odds¹³ of getting married and staying married and our number of sexual partners are all influenced by our DNA.

然而，研究表明我们结婚的几率，维持婚姻的几率和拥有性伴侣的数量都受DNA影响。

Despite this, genes are not the be all and end all. Simple evidence for this comes from looking at identical twins.

虽说如此，基因也不是全部。简单的例子就是看看那些同卵双胞胎。

They are usually attracted to the same type of person initially¹⁴, but end up settling down with very different mates.

他们一开始都会被同一类型的人吸引，但是最后都和截然不同的伴侣结了婚。