In the past, worried spouses hired expensive private detectives to do the dirty work, if they could afford to pay thousands of dollars. Now Infidelity DNA Testing, operated by the national DNA testing company Paternity Lab Center, makes it easy for any man or woman to scientifically confirm cheating, CSI-style.
Remember that boyfriend you dumped years ago? The one who couldn't seem to be faithful to you to save his soul? Well, maybe he couldn't help it. Really. A new study out of Binghamton University State University of New York suggests that people who cheat may have a gene variant that's driving them to do so. New research shows cheating and promiscuity are in our genes. Can we really blame DNA?
Getting married can seem like such a crapshoot: Will you wind up with someone like the stalwart, not-found-anywhere-on-Earth hero of a Nicholas Sparks novel—or a guy who, down the line, reveals himself to be a total cad? And what part does genetic predisposition play? This week, the Well column in the New York Times examines the scientific factors determining the likeliness of a partner to cheat. One hot topic indeed. Specifically, reporter Tara Parker-Pope compares a handful of new studies, including one that seems to debunk the influence of what's previously been called the "infidelity" gene, a variation in the gene that regulates vasopressin—a male bonding hormone. This new study says that possessing such a glitch might lead to a less stable partnership, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're cozying up to a Tiger.
If, like us, you're always looking for somebody else to blame for your loneliness and breadstick addiction, it's a good news day for you. Two new studies show that not only are parents responsible for how you look, they may have a hand in whether or not you ever find true love.
Researchers just revealed that the male Y chromosome is more evolved than female's XX chromosomes. The Y chromosome has advanced so much over the last 6 million years that there's now a 30 percent difference between the male genetic code and that of chimps, our nearest ancestor. If men's chromosomes are so different from apes, women ask, why can't they remember to put the toilet seat down?
Samantha Burke and DNA confirm she is Jude Law's big secret. YourTango's Celebrity Love blog has details on how she broke the news to Jude.
That cheating husband of yours actually may not be heeding the call of his "little brain" and instead heeding the call of his "big" one: Swedish scientists found that heterosexual men with two copies of a gene variant (called an allele) were twice as likely to report marital problems. Women married to men with one or two copies of the allele also reported being less satisfied in their marriages, especially in regards to the couple's intimacy and ability to connect. The Washington Post calls the study "the first time that science has shown a direct link between a man's genes and his aptitude for monogamy. "
Another study, this one from the University of Liverpool, shows that birth control pills do indeed lead a female to be attracted to the opposite kind of fellow she would be into without the presence of artificial hormones in her system. A groundbreaking, much-referenced 1995 study revealed the correlation between the level of attractiveness a woman feels to a man's scent and the compatibility of their DNA were they to have kids.
Sure, it's entertaining on TV, but in real life, paternity tests are no joke. When people really need to know the truth, it could take up to 6 months for labs to process the DNA samples. That could all change, with this new over-the-counter DNA Paternity test (about $150 with lab fee) that promises an answer in 3-5 business days through mail, phone or online through a secured web service. The test is easy enough - a mouth swab sample - and is mailed back to Identigene labs for analysis.
What happens when you're attracted to someone: Is it really his cute nose, or something going on deep inside both of your nostrils? According to this article, it's more likely to be the latter. That inexplicable pull you feel toward your new crush has more to do than with the way he ruffles his feathers. While looks and personality are significant initially, true attraction is biological.
A new study suggests that choosing a mate may be partially determined by our genetic code. Research published in Psychological Science has found a link between a set of genes involved with immune function and whom you find attractive and ultimately choose as a long-term mate. Says sciencedaily.com: “As the proportion of the couple’s shared genotypes increased, womens' sexual responsivity to their partners decreased…” Romantic? Not so much. But fascinating? For sure.
