However, the ‘wanderlust gene’ remains a point of contention in the scientific community, and many researchers warn that we should resist the temptation to attribute entire personality traits to one genetic variant. After all, there are many environmental reasons why someone might get bitten by the travel bug.

“Genes are like ingredients in a recipe – certain genes make a contribution but there isn’t one single gene for, say, wanderlust,” says science writer and developmental biologist Dr Kat Arney. “Even something like eye colour is not down to one gene.”

She concludes: “It’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you do with it that counts.”

Strangely, we find that quite uplifting. Now, where did we put that travel planner…?

Images: Pexels; iStock

Is the ‘wanderlust gene’ the reason why you can’t stop travelling?