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Russell Feingold (D), left, and Tim Michels (R), opponents in the 2004 Wisconsin Senate race, were one set of faces used in a study that suggested that voters want a candidate who is competent-looking.
Russell Feingold (D), left, and Tim Michels (R), opponents in the 2004 Wisconsin Senate race, were one set of faces used in a study that suggested that voters want a candidate who is competent-looking. (Image Courtesy Of Capitol Advantage - Image Courtesy Of Capitol Advantage)
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"We speculate that IVF has altered imprinting in these children and that aspects of this alteration are manifested in growth and lipid regulating genes, resulting in differences between the two groups," Miles wrote in her presentation.

-- Rob Stein

Genes' Role in Orgasm Studied

Women who have difficulty achieving orgasm can blame their genes for much of the problem, according to the first study to assess the genetic contribution to female sexual dysfunction.

Many women report that they never or rarely achieve orgasm, but little is known about the extent to which such problems are plainly biological.

Tim Spector of St. Thomas' Hospital in London and colleagues sent a survey to thousands of pairs of twins in the largest adult twin registry in Britain, which has helped scientists study the genetic influence of traits ranging from blood-clotting ability to musical prowess. By studying how identical and non-identical twins differ, twin studies can reveal the extent to which genes (which are the same in identical twins but only 50 percent the same in non-identical twins) contribute to variations in traits among people.

A total of 683 pairs of identical twins and 714 pairs of non-identical twins responded to the survey, which asked women what proportion of their sexual encounters result in orgasm. Overall, one-third reported never or rarely having an orgasm during intercourse and about one-fifth reported never or rarely have an orgasm during masturbation. An analysis of how often identical twins' answers were the same as those of non-identical twins indicated that genetic components account for about one-third to one-half of a woman's likelihood of having an orgasm.

To the extent orgasmic ability is heritable, it suggests that it has an evolutionary role, such as enhancing fertility -- an idea that remains controversial among scientists.

Genetically controlled factors that could contribute to orgasmic ability include variations in anatomy, hormone levels, responsiveness of the brain's pleasure center and tendencies toward anxiety or depression, the team said.

The study appeared in last week's online issue of the Royal Society publication Biology Letters.

-- Rick Weiss


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