Have you ever wondered what your genes might have in store for you in the future? Your family history might be responsible for a lot more than you think, as experts have suggested that depression and even a high sex drive can be linked to genetics.

Experts now believe that you are up to three times more likely to become depressed if a close family (such as a parent, grandparent or sibling) member develops it, although they are currently undecided on whether this is a result of your environment, or whether there is a specific gene that can be passed on. You may also be at an increased risk of developing bipolar disorder (a condition that is linked to depression and often develops in conjunction with it), which is believed to be strongly affected by genetics.

It is not just mental health problems that can be inherited. The risk of breast cancer increases by fourteen per cent if a close family member is diagnosed. This rises to twenty per cent if more than one close family member develops cancer. This is particularly significant if it is on the maternal side (your mother’s side) of the family.

On a lighter note, even your sex drive can be influenced by your genes. Research from Israel has suggested that those people who had a specific variation of the D4 gene (thirty per cent in the sample studied) had a stronger sex drive than those who did not have the genetic variation. This gene has been shown to be linked to addictions and other compulsive behavior.

Of course, your genes are responsible for a lot more than this, but it is interesting (and more than a bit scary) to look at just how much of your health is governed by genes - and therefore out of your control.