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Possible Monogamy Gene Found In People

Posted by kdawson on from the walking-the-line dept.

Calopteryx sends in a New Scientist summary of research from Sweden pointing toward the existence of a gene that influences monogamy in men. (The article doesn't mention women, and the study subjects were all men at least 5 years into a heterosexual relationship.) "There has been speculation about the role of the hormone vasopressin in humans ever since we discovered that variations in where receptors for the hormone are expressed makes prairie voles strictly monogamous but meadow voles promiscuous; vasopressin is related to the 'cuddle chemical' oxytocin. Now it seems variations in a section of the gene coding for a vasopressin receptor in people help to determine whether men are serial commitment-phobes or devoted husbands."

26 of 440 comments (clear)

  1. George Clooney dubs it: by Kingrames · · Score: 5, Funny

    The pussy gene.

    --
    If you can read this, I forgot to post anonymously.
    1. Re:George Clooney dubs it: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      The pussy gene is typically found in people with XX chromosomes and prominently displayed in XXX movies.

    2. Re:George Clooney dubs it: by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 4, Funny

      Of course.
      Those in monogamous relationships get sex on demand and home cooked meals!

      All my married friends tell me that.

  2. Disablites Act by JohnHegarty · · Score: 3, Funny

    Anyone want to start suggesting a relevant text for the update to the americans with disabilities act

    --
    Cruise TT
    1. Re:Disablites Act by Adriax · · Score: 5, Funny

      "No really babe, I've got a mutation in my monogamy gene. I HAVE to sleep around, or I'll die."

      --
      I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
  3. A whole new round of testing by TXISDude · · Score: 5, Funny

    I see a whole brave new world of testing before pre-nuptials . . . But, if I have a defective gene, will that qualify me as handicapped under something like ADA? Will there be a high risk pool that I will be forced to "date" out of? So many questions . . .

    --
    Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torment of man. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
    1. Re:A whole new round of testing by joelwyland · · Score: 4, Funny

      After reading your post, it's clear to me why you are having trouble finding a woman who is willing to let you touch it.

    2. Re:A whole new round of testing by philspear · · Score: 4, Funny

      Does it have anything to do with the phrase he coined: "insanely monogmous"? Spelling aside, how are you insanely monogamous? Isn't that a little like saying someone is "Extremely not on fire?"

    3. Re:A whole new round of testing by Artifakt · · Score: 4, Funny

      I just looked around - I'm in an air conditioned office, no sources of ignition around me, sitting cool and comfortable and extremely not on fire... No wait, Bob just lit a cigarette, so I'm down to thoroughly not on fire... No, Bob's running around with his tie in flames right now, so I guess I'm moderately not on fire... Whoops, dodging a flaming Bob, but I'm still marginally not on fire...

      --
      Who is John Cabal?
  4. And the Slashdot Gene by MyLongNickName · · Score: 5, Funny

    which renders someone unable to get any at all.

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    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
    1. Re:And the Slashdot Gene by smittyoneeach · · Score: 4, Funny

      And with this post, the discourse, if not the intercourse, was won.

      --
      Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
    2. Re:And the Slashdot Gene by pilgrim23 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Honestly; would ANYONE want to cuddle a meadow vole?
      Too much time, large research grant on their hands...

      --
      - Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
  5. Great!!! [whatever] Control pills by starglider29a · · Score: 5, Funny

    In the early 60's we got birth control pills, which (some say) facilitated women being promiscuous. Now, we have 'husband control pills'

    What happens if we miss a day? Do we take two then next and use alternate husband control methods. -- Sarcasm transmits across TCP/IP as well as it does other media

    1. Re:Great!!! [whatever] Control pills by thermian · · Score: 3, Funny

      In the early 60's we got birth control pills, which (some say) facilitated women being promiscuous. Now, we have 'husband control pills'

      What happens if we miss a day? Do we take two then next and use alternate husband control methods.

      Well to be safe you'd need to avoid monogamy for at least a month after missing a pill...

      --
      A learning experience is one of those things that say, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.' - D. Adams
    2. Re:Great!!! [whatever] Control pills by starglider29a · · Score: 5, Funny

      See... she has him on it already, and the poor blighter doesn't even know it.

  6. Gene also known to recede by dedazo · · Score: 5, Funny

    When confronted by large quantities of beer protein.

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    Web2.0: I love when people Flickr my cuil and digg my boingboing until my google is reddit and I start to yahoo
  7. Not always a gene... by Leomania · · Score: 5, Funny

    In my case, it's a "Martha" that has the greatest influence over my monogamous inclinations.

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    You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right.
  8. Oxytocin? by ThanatosMinor · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's not the cuddle chemical we used when I was in college

  9. Oh great.. one more test to take! by Pontiac · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now your GF/Wife will want you to take the "Cheating bastard" DNA test too.

    --
    If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur. --Red Adair
  10. Re:Hhhmm, by bonehead · · Score: 5, Funny

    In our current society, monogamy makes more sense.

    Until you see the hot little redhead that just moved in across the street from me. Then polygamy starts looking pretty damn good again.

  11. Exciting news. by JPMallory · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does this mean we may be able to finally develop a cure for monogamy?

  12. Re:i don't believe it by Gat0r30y · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've never had the slightest interest in anything except strict monogamy.

    You sir, lack imagination.

    --
    Prediction: The real iPhone killer is going to be sex robots from Japan. Think about it.
  13. interesting... by Coraon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Being polygamous I wonder if I have this gene...hehe I know my wife her girlfriend, and my two other partners don't. ;)

    --
    -Ours is the wisdom of Solomon, the magic of Merlyn, the fall of Icaris.
    1. Re:interesting... by need4mospd · · Score: 4, Funny

      Your Second Life account doesn't count.

  14. Re:Study shows 1 in 2 people are monogomous...(fix by russotto · · Score: 4, Funny

    Seen it too many times. 1 in every 2 people is poly meaning if your mono, chances are your partner is not.

    This is slashdot. Which means that a lot of those non-polys ain't mono, they're zippo.

  15. Monogamy is great! I want to promote it! by Tetsujin · · Score: 5, Funny

    If I had one of those monogamy genes, I'd want to help it thrive - so I'd go find a bunch o' girls and get 'em pregnant...

    --
    Bow-ties are cool.