Study: Cheating Husbands Have A Variant Gene

Men are more likely to be devoted and loyal husbands when they lack a particular variant of a gene that influences brain activity, researchers announced yesterday -- the first time that science has shown a direct link between a man's genes and his aptitude for monogamy.

The finding is striking because it not only links the gene variant -- which is present in two of every five men -- with the risk of marital discord and divorce, but also appears to predict whether women involved with these men are likely to say their partners are emotionally close and available, or distant and disagreeable. The presence of the gene variant, or allele, also seems predictive of whether men get married or live with women without getting married.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[fishsandwichesr2good]

So, Gov. McGravy his a couple of gene issues then?

[shall]

from the book:"Lust in Translation: The Rules of Infidelity from Tokyo to Tennessee,"
Depending on where they live, here are the favorite excuses men give for infidelity:

South Africa: It's better than taking a second or third wife.
United States: There is no love in my marriage.
France: I asked my wife to dress up and be sexy, but she wouldn't do it.
Japan: It's not adultery if I pay for sex!

guessing American men will have another excuse: " I'm genetically predisposed!"
http://www.damemagazine.com/life/relationships/f349/GenderBendOurCheatingHear.php

[NoSillyName]

Great, give 'em an excuse! Hey, soon there will be a simple test available to determine if the guy has that allele or not. Forewarned is Forearmed!

[WWang]

Let's put all the blame for irresponsible behavior not on the person who made a choice, but blame it on his genetic makeup. The standard for adulthood is getting further and further out of reach. What a load of crap!

[antaeus]

Why is science so scary?

[tbone99]

So it's the jeans?

[pcplz]

Exactly!!!!! The 'p' gene.

[Tabasco]

Who am I to question the will of the AwlMighty?

[harriscrl3]

I mean give me a break this is the dumbest crap ever. They cheat because they are lying cheating scums there is nothing in their gene stop trying to find ways to justify men acting like pigs.

Carol

[heal57]

I'm with you Carol. It's a choice. Many women cheat too. If your wedding vows really mean something to you, then you don't do it no matter how attracted you may find other people. Stay single if you want variety and s*rew your brains out.

[JadedAggie]

Anytime you see a study like this one you have to question whether or not they controlled for other factors. It is always easy to connect behavior to genes, but often the analysis ignores the fact that those particular genes are prevalent in specific ethnic, racial, or economic groups.

[nastyvirus]

That sounds racist. Are you Dr. Josef Mengele? Hey, you owe me money, cough it up, doc.

[ShakeYourComplacency]

They never said this was a cheating gene. It has to do with bonding. And this is no surprise. There are many, many men who seem to not be able to relate to, and bond with women. I often think why this is, that they didn't have good relationships with mom in the home or whatever.... because I figured that it wasn't in the best interest biologically for men to hate women. The primary evolutionary goal of males is to reproduce. Sex doesn't ensure reproduction, because you're competing with other males who could possibly have sex with the female as well. However, staying with the female ensures your sperm turns into babies and not another man's sperm. (A better chance, anyway). Raising the babies increases their survival, thereby successfully passing on your genes.

In contrast, mating with one woman, leaving then mating with another woman, and so on, doesn't seem to give males a good chance that their genes are being passed on. The female might not be fertile, or another male may mate with her, or her babies may not survive. So to bond with a woman seems most beneficial to a man.

Now I know, though, why so many men have to disguise their hatred for women and explain away their divorces by blaming it on the women.....they have genes which favor this direction.

[vkobaya1]

That gene should have a massive prevalence in Republicans and fundamentalist preachers. Also in Democrats like Bill Clinton and Gary Hart.

[LiberalDemIda]

If this is the case; that there is, indeed, a "cheating gene", then per the study, most men are still very loyal since this gene is found in 2 out of 5 men leaving the majority to being prone to a monogamous relationship.

If this is true, then the theory that men aren't monogamous because "it's biological" due to "the evolution of the human species" should be out the window, right?

Do I hear a collective, baritone "NOOOO!!" lol

Obama / Biden '08/'12!!

[nastyvirus]

Well, sweetheat, the remaining men will cheat too, not because of genetic influence, but because it's fun.

[NoSillyName]

And then they bring home a "nastyvirus"!

[jemiltd]

Wow. "Honey, it's not me, it's just in my jeans, I mean, my genes." Pulleez.

[GregbeingFrank]

A variant gene? A lying cheating sucker gene? Funny article...---Greg-------http://us.imdb.com/name/nm2734923/

[NoSillyName]

Does this explain the behavior of "Bad Boys"?