Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia found that infidelity may be handed down by parents and grandparents.
They have also identified a single gene which has variations which make women more likely to commit adultery.
"Our research clearly shows that people's genetic make-up influences how likely they are to have sex with someone outside their main partnership," Dr Brendan Zietsch, research fellow at the university's school of psychology, who led the study, said.
"But we did find tentative evidence for a specific gene influencing infidelity in women. More research will be needed to confirm this finding," Zietsch said.
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The study examined data on more than 7,300 twins aged 18 to 49, all of whom were in long-term relationships, 'The Telegraph' reported.
Some 9.8 per cent of the men and 6.4 per cent of women had had two or more sexual partners in the previous 12 months.
The researchers compared the difference in these rates between identical twins, who share all their genes, and non-identical twins, who do not.
They also found that women with certain variations in a gene called AVPRIA were more likely to be unfaithful.
The gene is involved in production of the hormone arginine vasopressin which is known to be involved in the regulation of social behaviour and has been linked to differences in philandering behaviour in voles.