Using DNA Testing To Determine A Man's Monogamous Tendencies?

A recent study released by Hasse Walum at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden seems to think it will be possible in the near future. The study took more than five hundred Swedish men and women in a long term relationship (defined as more than five years together) and studied a specific DNA string that includes the receptor vasopressin, which is linked to our "cuddle chemical" (found in nursing mothers or floating around after an orgasm) -- oxytocin. It seems that men with a higher number of these receptors have a poor ability to bond with their female partners.

Unfortunately the data that was studied was reused from a different study, so the researchers couldn't go about asking each of the people interviewed whether or not they were faithful to their partners. Even more unfortunately, the only way to completely test the researchers theory is to use brain tissue from people who have already passed on.

So for now the people who undertook this fascinating research are working instead on a nasal spray which would affect these same receptors either in jealous or altruistic folks. Hm. Something to definitely bookmark for future reference: nasal spray that reduces jealous tendencies. Could it really be that easy?

Source: New Scientist