Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Wild Fragaria on June 01, 2006, 12:01:32 pm
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This is related to the pizza thread I guess :p
Nature News Published online: 31 May 2006; | doi:10.1038/news060529-6
Sexual desire traced to genetics
Scientists in Israel have pinpointed a common genetic trait that could make some of us hungrier for sex than others.
The team looked at a gene known as the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4), which partly controls the brain's response to dopamine, a chemical often associated with the body's 'pleasure system'. Scientists know that this neurotransmitter can control sexual behaviour in animals and humans, and that dopamine circuits help to create the drive for things such as sex, drugs and food.
Richard Ebstein at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem was prompted to examine the DRD4 gene after a 2004 study showed that a drug blocking this gene's function helped to trigger erections in rats1.
Ebstein and his colleagues asked 148 male and female college students to fill in a sex questionnaire that posed questions such as 'How important is sex in your life?' and 'How often do you have sexual fantasies?'
They used the answers to tot up scores showing how much each student desired sex, how much they were aroused by sex and how good they were at performing the deed: effectively a measure of their 'horniness', Ebstein says. Then the team matched up these scores with the genetic make-up of each student's DRD4 gene.
The researchers found that students with one particular version of the gene scored roughly 5% lower, on average, in sexual desire than those with an alternative gene variant; a small but statistically meaningful difference. Around 70% of the population carry the low-arousal version and some 20% carry the high-arousal version of the gene. Their findings appear online in the journal of Molecular Psychiatry2.
The researchers don't know exactly how this genetic change may boost libido, because dopamine has many functions in our brain that influence our behaviour.
There is some evidence that the DRD4 gene is linked to novelty-seeking, so the people who crave more sex might simply be the type that craves more excitement generally. Also, dopamine may influence how sharply the brain reacts to sexually arousing stimuli and prompts bodily reactions such as an erection.
The finding fits with other studies showing, for example, that patients who take dopamine-boosting drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease also experience a jump in sex drive. But other experts say that the finding has to be repeated in a much larger group of people before it can be confirmed.
An array of different genes probably moulds our sexual desire and behaviour, along with cultural expectations, upbringing and life experiences. But taboos around sex make the genetic underpinnings hard to research, says Dean Hamer of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, who authored a controversial study linking genetic variation to homosexuality3. "There's a cultural ban on sexuality studies," he says.
Hamer argues that such research is important because sex is a fundamental part of human behaviour and could, for example, explain why some people seek multiple sexual partners, which contributes to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Ebstein adds that people who aren't that excited by sex may find it reassuring to know that this may be partly down to their genes.
"The most important thing is it forwards scientific study of sexuality," Hamer says. "It's about time people started studying this stuff."
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I wonder about that last 10%..
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They probably couldn't get a sample from them cause they were too busy ****ing :)
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They probably couldn't get a sample from them cause they were too busy ****ing :)
I'd imagine getting a sample would be quite easy, you'd just need a couple of cans of Super-Strength.
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Doesn't a lot of it come down to hormones at the moment... I mean, we all have "low" days. (or at least I hope so)
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i got an errection reading that, i must be in the 20% :D
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i got an errection reading that, i must be in the 20% :D
You did!! This is not porn, you know :p
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i got an errection reading that, i must be in the 20% :D
You did!! This is not porn, you know :p
damn! :D
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i got an errection reading that, i must be in the 20% :D
You did!! This is not porn, you know :p
damn! :D
Judging from you reaction, you're probably in the top 10% range :D
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It's okay if you got an erection. Just remember the golden rule: Call your doctor if it lasts longer than four hours.
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Doesn't a lot of it come down to hormones at the moment... I mean, we all have "low" days. (or at least I hope so)
The problem isn't the low days...its the "high" days....oh goodness.
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Doesn't a lot of it come down to hormones at the moment... I mean, we all have "low" days. (or at least I hope so)
The problem isn't the low days...its the "high" days....oh goodness.
I am sure there are solutions to the "high" problem. I believe meditation is always helpful. Otherwise, just remember Ford's Golden Rule: Call your doctor if it lasts longer than four hours.
:lol:
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hell, if it lasts 4 hours, i'm ****ing using it for 4 hours
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I am sure there are solutions to the "high" problem. I believe meditation is always helpful.
Yeah.... "meditation".
hell, if it lasts 4 hours, i'm ****ing using it for 4 hours
Good idea. Let us know how that goes.
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Grandad: I can't believe Moe's dead. How did it happen?
Moe's wife: Well, you know those pills you take? To "help" yall? And how if your erection lasts more than 4 hours you're to stop use immediately?
Grandad: Yes...
Moe's wife: He didn't.
Grandad: ... Haaaa! haaa! haa! Moe's dead, Moe's dead, Moe's dead dead dead.
:nervous: someone will get it... someone has to get it.
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gotta get my mojo runnin' engines hummin' baby
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i won't be sore....
somebody else sure will be!
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my last girlfriend said i **** to hard.
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i'll bet everyone wonders why you have that big bloody bandage on your hand...
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Its possible that those of us in the elusive "high 10% bracket" are all te only normal ones, The other 90% are probably just lazy...........
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maybe i am in the 10%
i get to see my gf in 3 hrs and its the only thing i can think about
arrg, why am i so impatient
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Thats not impatient, Thats just being part of the great Male Gender, WE can p!$$ standing up, no PMT, no Childbirth, and we get paid more at work, I'm not religous but if i was, i'd swear gods a dude, not a Ho!
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10 minutessss..... *bouncing*
seriously im halfway up already just from anticipation
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Why? When did you see her last?
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Well, this is.......graphic.
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It's 2 months late for Spring is what it is ;)
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Some people are late bloomers. As a matter of fact, timing isn't quite an issue for people :P
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Humans are pretty good at this sort of thing year round...apparently the only other species thats even remotely close is dolphins. Scientists figure it has to do with the relative intelligence of the species. The more intelligent...the more they want :)
But spring and fall are definately times when I find people are hooking up.
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Humans are pretty good at this sort of thing year round...apparently the only other species thats even remotely close is dolphins. Scientists figure it has to do with the relative intelligence of the species. The more intelligent...the more they want :)
But spring and fall are definately times when I find people are hooking up.
Perhaps it's evolved to be synched-in with when it's easiest to forage, i.e. so that the offspring would be born at the time of year when they would be most able to survive.
Or could be a consequence of general comfort levels, i.e. when the climate is nicest.
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I believe Spring is exactly that reason, mate in March/April, give Birth in December/January when there's no farming or gathering to be done. It basically means that, when the babe and mother are at the most vulnerable, (Late Winter) the Pack is nearby and living on stored food. By the time it comes to Spring, the babe is old enough to be carried on your back while you work.
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Aldo has good points. Although now we have better medicare and survival rate, I guess our basic instinct has not been altered too much through evolution :D
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Aldo has good points. Although now we have better medicare and survival rate, I guess our basic instinct has not been altered too much through evolution :D
I think we're too large and disparate a population to physically evolve nowadays, anyways. Any drastically advantageous physical change would also quite probaly be rejected by the mass of society, too, due to the whole sexual selection process.
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Scientists were showing how evolution continues in the human genome. They had recently identified a particular genetic trait (what it was they don't know exactly) that didn't exist in most of European humans 1000 years ago but that its now in something like 90% of all European descendants (includes us North Americans - we're just Europeans in a different location). Based on no scientific observation whatsoever...but I bet its all about producing an enzyme to break down alchohol better :)
They have also been showing that genetic code is more maleable than once thought. Evolution is sometimes glacial in its obvious changes but some of the smaller things get passed along fairly quickly.
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Scientists were showing how evolution continues in the human genome. They had recently identified a particular genetic trait (what it was they don't know exactly) that didn't exist in most of European humans 1000 years ago but that its now in something like 90% of all European descendants (includes us North Americans - we're just Europeans in a different location). Based on no scientific observation whatsoever...but I bet its all about producing an enzyme to break down alchohol better :)
They have also been showing that genetic code is more maleable than once thought. Evolution is sometimes glacial in its obvious changes but some of the smaller things get passed along fairly quickly.
Mmm, that's interesting. I would have expected simple geography to prevent a genetic change spreading that far is as 'quickly' as a millenia.
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Unless the environment that encouraged the development of that kind of gene was already in place in the society before it broke up. Something like alcohol tolerance would be a moderately likely candidate actually :)
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Well considering that Europeans have been drinking themselves stupid for at least 1000 years (and probably far more) and considering that a good number of asians lack the enzyme to break down alchohol properly (thus the whole "asian gene" and the fact that some of them go beat red and can't take much) I wonder if europeans developed a genetic tolerance to alchohol. Over a 1000 years its doable.
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10 minutessss..... *bouncing*
seriously im halfway up already just from anticipation
she's pregnant
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considering that a good number of asians lack the enzyme to break down alchohol properly (thus the whole "asian gene" and the fact that some of them go beat red and can't take much)
That's definatly true. They can't hold their booze......
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Well considering that Europeans have been drinking themselves stupid for at least 1000 years (and probably far more) and considering that a good number of asians lack the enzyme to break down alchohol properly (thus the whole "asian gene" and the fact that some of them go beat red and can't take much) I wonder if europeans developed a genetic tolerance to alchohol. Over a 1000 years its doable.
Although alcohol is scarecely a european invention; IIRC the egyptians invented beer, and I'm pretty sure other cultures developed similar drinks as well.
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Absolutely. Asians make wine too, from rice, coconuts, and sugarcane. Chinese makes all kinds of interesting alcohol.
Well, strange enough that I'm a girl and not a European origin but I can drink a fair bit ;)
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You go girl!
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Grandad: I can't believe Moe's dead. How did it happen?
Moe's wife: Well, you know those pills you take? To "help" yall? And how if your erection lasts more than 4 hours you're to stop use immediately?
Grandad: Yes...
Moe's wife: He didn't.
Grandad: ... Haaaa! haaa! haa! Moe's dead, Moe's dead, Moe's dead dead dead.
:nervous: someone will get it... someone has to get it.
Yeah, at least one person did. :lol:
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Well considering that Europeans have been drinking themselves stupid for at least 1000 years (and probably far more) and considering that a good number of asians lack the enzyme to break down alchohol properly (thus the whole "asian gene" and the fact that some of them go beat red and can't take much) I wonder if europeans developed a genetic tolerance to alchohol. Over a 1000 years its doable.
Although alcohol is scarecely a european invention; IIRC the egyptians invented beer, and I'm pretty sure other cultures developed similar drinks as well.
Didn't know all of that....
I didn't figure Europeans strictly invented the stuff...but they may have invented overdosing on it :D
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Yup, Egyptians invented Beer, but it was more of a drink for the Elite or for Festivals, I think Western Culture really perfected the art of 'alcohol for the masses.'
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I thought it was monks that invented beer?
I think beer's been around longer than the Bible. :p
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Egyptians were building pyramids in 4000BC, it was after then that the Israelites were forced into bondage (kinkay! - sorry), according to the Bible, so I suspect the trick was learned from the Egyptians :)
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Fair nuff'.
Hehehe, I'm listening to "always look on the bright side of life". :D *whistles*
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Egyptians were building pyramids in 4000BC, it was after then that the Israelites were forced into bondage (kinkay! - sorry), according to the Bible, so I suspect the trick was learned from the Egyptians :)
pagans have been drinking mead for much longer than that.
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Egyptians were building pyramids in 4000BC, it was after then that the Israelites were forced into bondage (kinkay! - sorry), according to the Bible, so I suspect the trick was learned from the Egyptians :)
pagans have been drinking mead for much longer than that.
mead != beer
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Also, the whole definition of 'Mead' is different as time goes by. Ancient Celtic 'Mead' was, despite popular belief, pretty weak stuff compared to modern day beverages, about the same level as Shandy.
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Egyptians were building pyramids in 4000BC, it was after then that the Israelites were forced into bondage (kinkay! - sorry) <snip>
:lol: That explains why Israelis are weird!
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hey, booze is booze, and it was most likely invented when sugar rich liquids were stored for long periods of time (as winter food stores no doubt) and were infected by yeast. so in reality alchohalic beverages invented themselves. mead no doubt came into existance when stored honey was infected with natural yeast and fermented. realistically yeast has only been artificially introduced for only a few hundred years. before then making booze was usually hit or miss.
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hmm, me and my gf kinda noticed something
i seem to have big days and small days, the difference is like half an inch in length, and a big difference in stiffness and somewhat in width
does this happen to you guys?
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Well, sleeping in an awkward position can leave you feeling stiff, and muscle tension in the hip joints and shoulder joints can cause those joints to relax, thus making your height more of an average, same with chest and stomach muscles, you can sometimes have a larger waist even without eating a meal.
:p
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hmm, me and my gf kinda noticed something
i seem to have big days and small days, the difference is like half an inch in length, and a big difference in stiffness and somewhat in width
does this happen to you guys?
Amen brother! Preach on!
During most of the school year I have small days, but come summer, every day is a big day. I think it has to do with how much sleep I get.
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hmm, me and my gf kinda noticed something
i seem to have big days and small days, the difference is like half an inch in length, and a big difference in stiffness and somewhat in width
does this happen to you guys?
Well, sleeping in an awkward position can leave you feeling stiff, and muscle tension in the hip joints and shoulder joints can cause those joints to relax, thus making your height more of an average, same with chest and stomach muscles, you can sometimes have a larger waist even without eating a meal.
:p
Y'know, from the previous discussion in this thread, and the thread topic, I sort of assumed you were talking about your penis.