One in four born to cheat partners

LONDON - One in every four can’t help but cheat on their partners as they are born with the roving eye.

Scientists suggest that when a man or woman with the ‘love rat gene’ has an affair, they receive the same adrenaline rush as a gambler whose luck has changed.

Researchers quizzed 180 young men and women about their attitude towards relationships and tested them for a gene called DRD4, which affects levels of the brain chemical dopamine, reports the journal PLoS ONE.

The one quarter or so with the ‘love rat’ version of the gene were more than twice as likely to be unfaithful. And when they did cheat, they had more one-night stands, according to the Daily Mail.

Researcher Justin Garcia of the State University of New York, US, said: “What we found was that individuals with a certain variant of the DRD4 gene were more likely to have a history of uncommitted sex, including one-night stands and acts of infidelity.”

“The motivation seems to stem from a system of pleasure and reward, which is where the release of dopamine comes in.”

“In cases of uncommitted sex, the risks are high, the rewards substantial and the motivation variable - all elements that ensure a dopamine ‘rush’,” said Garcia.