Sexual precociousness is in our genes, new research suggests. A unique study of twins separated at birth finds a genetic link to the age at which a person first engages in sexual intercourse.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not like there鈥檚 a gene for having a sex at a certain date,鈥� says , a psychologist at California State University in Fullerton who led the new study. Instead, heritable behavioural traits such as impulsivity could help determine when people first have sex, she says.
As genetic determinism goes, the new findings are modest. Segal鈥檚 team found that genes explain a third of the differences in participants鈥� age at first intercourse 鈥� which was, on average, a little over 19 years old. By comparison, roughly 80% of variations in height across a population can be explained by genes alone.
Advertisement
However, determining the extent to which sexual precociousness is inherited is trickier than making a similar calculation for height. A common family environment 鈥� whether it promotes or hinders early sex 鈥� could cause scientists to overestimate the effect of genes.
Social effect
By studying 48 pairs of twins raised apart, as well as 23 individual twins, Segal鈥檚 team sidesteps this confounding factor. 鈥淭his gives us a pure estimate about how much genes affect behaviour,鈥� she says.
On the other hand, conservative social mores might delay a teen鈥檚 first sexual experience, causing scientists to low-ball the effect of genes. Indeed, Segal鈥檚 team noticed a less pronounced genetic effect among twins born before 1948, compared with those who came of age in the 1960s or later.
Other factors may also make the effects of genes harder to discern. For example, Segal鈥檚 team also found that female participants who felt unhappy and unfulfilled in their home life were more likely to have sex at a younger age.
Essential function
As for the specific genes involved, another team previously found that a version of a gene encoding a receptor for the neurotransmitter dopamine is associated with age at first intercourse. Others have linked the same version of the gene 鈥� called DRD4 鈥� to impulsive, risk-taking behaviour.
This might be one explanation for early sexual activity, says , a psychologist at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Yet unlike other risky behaviours, such as drug use or reckless driving, sex serves an essential biological function.
鈥淔or most of our evolutionary past, sexual behaviour hasn鈥檛 been risk taking, it鈥檚 about reproduction and success of the species,鈥� Rodgers says.
Journal reference:
