Genes do not cause loneliness. As previously mentioned, the feelings of being lonely come about through social isolation. However, it seems that behavioural traits can lead to some people being more isolated than others. For example, some people who embark on careers where they will be working on their own for long periods of time may choose such a path because of their personality type, something that may have a genetic link. In 2016, a genetic study into what it is to be lonely was carried out. It found that human genetics is a factor in social isolation. Consequently, people with certain genetic traits are simply more likely to end up being lonely. Of course, this is not a determining factor, but it means the chances of feeling lonely at some point are greater. The study quantified this by suggesting that people with certain genes were up to 27 per cent more likely to be lonely than the general population.