Research: Some women may carry an "infidelity gene"

Variants of combinations of the AVPR1A gene have been found to be associated with promiscuity and ruthlessness in animals, the Sunday Times reported.

Each person carries two AVPR1A genes – one inherited from each parent – so there are a number of potential combinations.  

But these variations only appear to affect females rather than males.

Dr Brendan Zietsch, a professor of psychology at the university, worked with a team of geneticists and neuroscientists to examine the DNA and lifestyles of more than 7,000 people. 

They found that of the 6.4 per cent of women who had been unfaithful, a large amount of them had a specific variant of the ‘infidelity gene.’