Girls Who Try Sex Early Driven by Genes

Absentee fathers not to blame, study says

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 19, 2009 3:40 PM CDT

(Newser) – Absentee fathers may not be at fault for daughters who experiment with sex at an early age, the Economist reports. Researchers have long noted that girls with no dad around tend to reach sexual maturity earlier, suffer from depression, criticize their bodies, and get pregnant early on. But a new study suggests that runaway fathers and girls' sex experimentation may have the same cause: genes.

American researchers looked at 1,382 boys and girls, each related as cousins through their mother's side of the family. The cousins most closely related had sex around the same age, regardless of whether their father was around. The study's author isn't sure why, but says their mom's genes may have made her equally impulsive—and led her into an early marriage that was more likely to break up.

Absentee dads may not be to blame for girls who try sex at an early age, a new study says. (Shutterstock)

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Absentee fathers not to blame, study says

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

genes • father • genetic code • teen sex

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

More Teen Boys Using Condoms: CDC

But main pregnancy determinants haven't changed

Dad Sues Facebook After Daughter Posts Lewd Pics

The big problem: She's only 12

Steve Jobs' Birth Father Wishes Son Would Call

But he won't call Jobs himself because of 'Syrian pride'

Sex With Neanderthals Boosted Our Immunity

Scientists make 'stunning' discovery in genome comparison

Scientists Find 'Happiness Gene'

But they warn: Don't blame everything on biology

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