Love rat? It's all in the genes

Scientists today claimed they have identified the "love rat" section of the brain.

They have already used the finding to create over-sexed fruit flies who abandon all courtship rituals and jump on any female.

They now believe the same brain area could control human courtship.

Usually, the male fruit fly goes through a complex ritual when trying to attract a mate. He follows the female, taps her with his foreleg, "sings" by vibrating his wings, and finally touches her genitalia. Only then is copulation attempted.

But Professor Bruce Baker, from Stanford University in California, said that when the functioning of the cells was interfered with, the male tried to perform the ritual actions simultaneously.

Professor Baker claims a similar abandonment of courtship rituals might occur in humans. Most major developmental genes are the same in both species, he said.