Single, double or triple? Ask your gene!

Recently, researchers have found that we can determine whether men are serial commitment-phobes or devoted husbands by only looking at their gene. This can be possible by identifying the variations in a section of the gene coding for a vasopressin receptor in particular man. Hormone vasopressin in human is linked to the "cuddle chemical" oxytocin. Researchers found that, there are certain variations in where receptors for the hormone are expressed. The hormone makes praire voles strictly monogamous but meadow voles promiscuous. This research was conducted by Hasse Walum at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues to 552 Sweedish men who were all in heterosexual partnerships. What they did were identifying the various forms of the gene coding for a vasopressin receptor of these men as well as investigating the qualities of their relationship. And the result was, the variation in a section of gene called RS3 334 is responsible for the commitment of men towards their partners. The numbers of copies are vary for each men which they can have none, one or two copies. Their finding shows that the higher number of copies they have, the worse men scored on a measure of pair bonding.

Apart from that, Wallum also found that men with two copies of RS3 334 were more likely to be unmarried than men with one copy or none, and even if they did they were twice as likely to have a marital crisis. The research team suggests that having multiple copies somehow contributes to commitment problem in men. However, it is still not clear exactly how multiple copies of RS3 334 affect expression of vasopressin receptor as well as our intimate relationship.
In some animals, the theory is that the brain has two "motivational" systems: one for reward, the other for social perception. In prairie voles and marmosets, receptors for the two systems sit on adjacent cells, so social activity is highly rewarding, leading to monogamy. To see if the same mechanism is at work in people will mean using tissue from post-mortems to map where vasopressin receptors lie, to see if variations are linked to the number of copies of RS3 334. Later, in early 2008, the same gene section found to have and effect signaling in people's amygdalas, linked to trust. In addition another study conducted have shown that people with autism, which is characterized by unusual behaviour, often have multiple copies of RS3 334. Therefore, it seems to be that more research needed to discover the "secret" behind this gene.
And if this is proven to be true, what a good news for the girls out there!


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Reference link: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Story?id=5702390&page=1

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