BEIJING, June 4 -- Sexy men and women may have a "randy" mutation in their genes, scientists have revealed.

    About 30 per cent of people have mutations that cause heightened responses to sexual signals.

    Another 60 per cent carry variants that dampen them. Ten per cent fall into neither category.

    The Israeli team found levels of desire in 148 students were linked with variations in the D4 gene.

    Some forms of the gene depressed sexual desire while others aroused it.

    The research suggests many aspects of sexuality depend on genetics.

    Prof Richard Ebstein, from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said: "This suggests individual differences are partially due to specific genes."

    The findings, in the Journal Molecular Psychiatry, could now be used to treat sexual problems.