Three genes have been found linked to happiness, Dutch researchers reported last night.
The genes were uncovered as part of a study of the genetic basis of mental health.
Researchers at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam said they had found three genetic variants for happiness, two linked to the symptoms of depression and 11 locations linked to neuroticism.
The findings, reported in Nature Genetics, come from a study involving some 298,000 people.
Researcher Professor Meike Bartels said: "This study is both a milestone and a new beginning – a milestone because we are now certain that there is a genetic aspect to happiness and a new beginning because the three variants that we know are involved account for only a small fraction of the differences between human beings.
"We expect that many variants will play a part."
He added: "Locating these variants will also allow us to better study the interplay between nature and nurture, as the environment is certainly responsible – to some extent – for differences in the way people experience happiness.
"The genetic overlap with depressive symptoms that we have found is also a breakthrough. This shows that research into happiness can also offer new insights into the causes of one of the greatest medical challenges of our time: depression."
Genetic variants associated with subjective well-being, depressive symptoms and neuroticism identified through genome-wide analyses. Nature Genetics 25 April 2016
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