A study published online in the Journal Molecular Psychiatry does not claim to explain the science of sexual desire, or why levels of sexual desire vary. But the researchers note that their findings deserve more exploration. At the core of the study are different patterns in the newly discovered DRD4 gene. This gene makes a protein that serves as a receptor for dopamine, a chemical messenger produced by the brain. The DRD4 gene has drawn attention in tests on animals, so researchers took a closer look at that gene in people.

The researchers found that one variation of the DRD4 gene was associated with lower levels of sexual desire, while another variation was tied to higher levels of sexual desire. The study however does not show that any participants had sexual problems. It also doesn’t prove that the DRD4 gene determined participants sexual desire, or that other genetic or nongenetic influences were involved. The study also does not explain why sexual desire might ebb and flow over time, or how genetic variations interact with nongenetic influences, such as the quality of an intimate relationship or other health conditions.

If genetics affect sexual desire, it might be possible to create new drug treatments for desire disorders, the researchers note. In other words, if genetics play a role in sexual desire, knowing that might change the way people regard low or high levels of sexual desire. The researchers stress that their findings need to be studied in a larger group of people.

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