It's in your genes

(Not your kiss)

The secret to a good marriage? It could be in your genes.

Swedish researchers have discovered a 'divorce gene' that could lead to increased risk of relationship breakdown. The gene contributes to the way the brain uses the chemical vasopressin, which is crucial to the bonding process between partners.

The researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm tested how well men with a variant of the 'divorce gene' performed in a questionnaire assessing their bond with their partner. These men usually had lower scores and were less likely to be married. If the men were married, their wives were generally less happy in their relationships than wives of men without the genetic variant.

While it might seem like bad news for couples, the fact that scientists have located a chemical reason for bad relationships means that they might also be able to develop drugs to prevent marriage break-ups.