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Let's Play Another Round of 'Blame it on Your Genes'

Dec 03, 2010

"Predilections for promiscuity" can be found in one's DNA, LiveScience reports. In a new study published in PLoS One, researchers at Binghamton University in New York, along with their collaborators, show that people with a particular polymorphism of the dopamine receptor gene DRD4 have a higher tendency towards infidelity and "one-night stands," which they found by analyzing DNA samples and detailed sexual histories from 181 individuals. DRD4 has also been linked to other thrill-seeking activities, from addictions to gambling and alcohol to a heightened appreciation for horror movies, LiveScience adds. But the Binghamton-led team was quick to add that the gene variant cannot serve as an excuse for infidelity. "These relationships are associative, which means that not everyone with this genotype will have one-night stands or commit infidelity," study coauthor Justin Garcia told LiveScience.

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