For millennia, humans have been driven to explore, migrate, and settle in places far from their origins. New research suggests this isn’t solely a matter of circumstance—it’s partly encoded in our DNA. A large-scale genetic study reveals that a predisposition to long-distance migration is linked to specific brain development genes, echoing patterns found in both modern populations and ancient human genomes dating back 10,000 years.
The Biological Basis of Movement
Researchers analyzed genetic data from over 250,000 people in the United Kingdom, correlating distance moved from birthplace with variations in their genomes. They found that those who migrated farther shared genetic variants associated with excitatory neurons—brain cells critical for learning, planning, and assessing risk. These genetic differences accounted for about 5% of migration behavior, a statistically significant signal even after controlling for education and health. This suggests that the “itch to move” isn’t just about opportunity or well-being; it has biological roots.
Ancient Echoes: Mobility in the Past
The study didn’t stop at modern populations. By examining ancient DNA from over 1,300 individuals dating back 10,000 years, the team discovered that the same migration-linked genes predicted how far people moved in the past—measured by the distance between their inferred birthplaces and burial sites. This indicates that the drive to explore has been a long-standing part of human evolution, with genes favoring mobility becoming more common over time as humans spread into new environments.
Economic Implications: A Mobile Workforce Fuels Growth
An analysis of U.S. data suggests that these genetic tendencies may even shape regional economic fortunes. Counties with higher proportions of residents carrying migration-linked genes tended to experience faster income growth, possibly because mobile individuals bring new skills, ideas, and a willingness to take risks.
“There is something in our genome that affects our decisions to move,” confirms Ivan Kuznetsov, a behavioral geneticist at the University of Tartu, underscoring the biological component of human migration.
The findings highlight a fundamental aspect of human behavior—a deeply ingrained biological drive to explore and relocate. While the genetic influence is small, it’s consistent, suggesting that wanderlust isn’t just a cultural phenomenon but an evolutionary legacy. This reinforces the idea that our species has always been predisposed to move, adapt, and seek new horizons.
