Posted on 09/02/2008 6:33:28 PM PDT by Pharmboy
The same gene that affects a rodent's ability to mate for life may affect human marriages, Swedish and U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.
Men carrying a common variation of gene involved in brain signaling were more likely to be in unhappy marriages than men with the other version, the team at the Karolinska Institute found.
Although they are not sure what the genetic changes do to a man's behavior, some other research suggests it has to do with the ability to communicate and empathize, the team reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"We never looked at infidelity in our study at all. What we have been focusing on is how strongly men bond to their partners," Karolinska's Hasse Walum,
Walum's team had been intrigued by previous research that showed one genetic difference seemed to explain why one species of vole formed strong pair bonds for life, while another mated promiscuously.
"Maybe this same gene will affect humans," Walum said.
They looked at a study of 552 pairs of twins and their spouses that detailed measures of parent and child relationships, marriage, personality and mental health of middle-class Swedes born between 1944 and 1971.
MONOGAMOUS RODENTS
The researchers tested the blood of men in the study, looking in particular for a gene that is similar in humans and voles. Called AVPR1A, it helps explain why prairie voles are monogamous and mountain and meadow voles are not.
The gene affects a brain chemical called neuropeptide arginine vasopressin and mostly affects blood pressure ...
In humans, studies have shown certain variations of AVPR1A are linked with aggression, age at first sexual intercourse and altruism. One study suggested a link with autism, which affects the ability to interact socially, while another showed over-activation of the amygdala, the brain's emotional center.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The Budweiser gene?
Genes ping...
When in doubt, blame the guy.
Yep, that’s been my excuse for years. ;-)
..in some cases, it’s the guy next store named “Gene”
Brilliant deconstruction!
oooh. i smell smoke :)
*shrug* It’s not just a good idea, it’s the law...
thanks, bfl
“
Marriage problems? Husband’s genes may be to blame
“
I have NOT read it yet...but I did hear the author’s presentation
on BookTV (C-Span2; weekends) a few weeks ago...OK, maybe about 50%
of the presentation.
The author (IIRC) is a former officer in the US Military.
Evil Genes: Why Rome Fell, Hitler Rose, Enron Failed, and
My Sister Stole My Mother’s Boyfriend
by Barbara Oakley
http://www.amazon.com/Evil-Genes-Hitler-Mothers-Boyfriend/dp/1591026652/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220406356&sr=1-1
and...if my linkage is correct, the BookTV presentation by the
author can be seen by clicking the red “WATCH” button (which is
a “Real Media” player presentation that can be accessed even over
dial-up, although you’ll just see jerky video)
http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=9618&SectionName=&PlayMedia=No
Guess my wife is right....not matter what it is it is my fault. Don’t think the my genes made me do it will work.
“Cheaters”...a VERY guilty pleasure for millions of folks.
I find it interesting that it originates (AFAIK) from Texas.
A place where there is a lingering concept of worth of fidelity.
This show just couldn’t be from LA, NYC or a number of other “leading”
American cities as fidelity and honesty are passe’ concepts for too
much of the local population.
Not everyone in those locales.
But enough to signal what the “social contract” is about cheating
on a spouse or paramour.
Genes? Nope. It not understanding the difference between Mens Brains Womens Brains.
Mens Brains Womens Brains video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxtUH_bHBxs
I have a “runaway bride” gene...
Honey,I’m sorry I’m such an ass. I guess it’s in my genes.
Lots of cheating going on in Texas too. A friend mine... well his wife just went to Vegas by herself and the poor guy still hasn’t figured out his wife is cheating on him. She is so blatant about it.. you’d think he’d catch a clue so his friends don’t have to do the really awful duty of explaining some things to him.
When are they going to find the woman’s sarcasa-b1tch gene?
Of course, gotta be the guy.
Whole lotta ‘may’, ‘maybe’, ‘might’ being tossed around. Can’t they actually wait until they actually DO discover something real in people? “TMZ science” at its best.
I think it has more to do with no-fault divorce, massive financial payoffs to a wife that brought no wealth into the relationship, and anti-male/father family courts.
MGTOW
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