Associations between dopamine D4 receptor gene variation with both infidelity and sexual promiscuity

Human sexual behavior is highly variable both within and between populations. While sex-related characteristics and sexual behavior are central to evolutionary theory (sexual selection), little is known about the genetic bases of individual variation in sexual behavior. The variable number tandem re...

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Published in:	PloS one Vol. 5; no. 11; p. e14162
Main Authors:	Garcia, Justin R, MacKillop, James, Aller, Edward L, Merriwether, Ann M, Wilson, David Sloan, Lum, J Koji
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Public Library of Science 30-11-2010 Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:	Adults Animal behavior Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Biological evolution Brain Coding Discount rates Dopamine Dopamine D4 receptors Dopamine receptors Evolution (Biology) Evolutionary Biology/Human Evolution Evolutionary Biology/Sexual Behavior Female Gene polymorphism Genes Genetic aspects Genetic diversity Genetic polymorphisms Genotype Human behavior Humans Linear Models Male Minisatellite Repeats - genetics Motivation Neural coding Neuroscience/Behavioral Neuroscience Phenols (Class of compounds) Polymorphism Polymorphism, Genetic Populations Promiscuity Receptors, Dopamine D4 - genetics Reinforcement Reward Sex Factors Sexual Behavior Sexual selection Smoking Statistics, Nonparametric Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult Young adults New York United States > US
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Summary:	Human sexual behavior is highly variable both within and between populations. While sex-related characteristics and sexual behavior are central to evolutionary theory (sexual selection), little is known about the genetic bases of individual variation in sexual behavior. The variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in exon III of the human dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) has been correlated with an array of behavioral phenotypes and may be predicatively responsible for variation in motivating some sexual behaviors, particularly promiscuity and infidelity. We administered an anonymous survey on personal history of sexual behavior and intimate relationships to 181 young adults. We also collected buccal wash samples and genotyped the DRD4 VNTR. Here we show that individuals with at least one 7-repeat allele (7R+) report a greater categorical rate of promiscuous sexual behavior (i.e., having ever had a "one-night stand") and report a more than 50% increase in instances of sexual infidelity. DRD4 VNTR genotype varies considerably within and among populations and has been subject to relatively recent, local selective pressures. Individual differences in sexual behavior are likely partially mediated by individual genetic variation in genes coding for motivation and reward in the brain. Conceptualizing these findings in terms of r/K selection theory suggests a mechanism for selective pressure for and against the 7R+ genotype that may explain the considerable global allelic variation for this polymorphism.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-2 ObjectType-Feature-1 Conceived and designed the experiments: JRG AMM DSW JKKL. Performed the experiments: JRG ELA. Analyzed the data: JRG JM. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: JKKL. Wrote the paper: JRG JM.
ISSN:	1932-6203 1932-6203
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0014162