Is There a 'Gay' Gene? Part two

[amicus]

Response to an assertion in a previous post, “The Feminine Mistake” that one of the results of the feminist movement was in part causal to male homosexuality, was so emotional that it gave cause for further research.

In addition, a familiarity with DSM-IV, (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) the Bible of modern psychiatry, which I interpret to be a manual of secular humanism in terms of morality and ethics, gave added impetus.

The research was interesting and contradictory. Thousands upon thousands of articles and ‘opinions’ concerned with the issue leaves one scratching ones head as to the ‘truth’ of any of them.

I stayed away from any ‘religious’ arguments as well as those advocating ‘gay’ rights.

Even within the fields of science, medicine and psychology, the views were often emotional and biased in one direction or another.

That led to the posting of the, “Is There a ‘Gay’ Gene” Poll. I wanted to gauge what readers had to say before offering any research.

We live in an exciting time in History; great changes are taking place with more to follow. The current controversy over Gay Marriage highlights the very controversial issue of Homosexuality in contemporary society.

With that said…

Homosexuality & Genetics
+

"There is no evidence that shows that homosexuality is genetic--and none of the research itself claims there is. Only the press and certain researchers do, when speaking in sound bites to the public." --Jeffrey Satinover, M.D., The Journal of Human Sexuality, 1996, p.8

"To date, no researcher has claimed that genes can determine sexual orientation. At best, researchers 'believe' that there may be a genetic component. No human behavior, let alone sexual behavior, has been connected to genetic markers to date...sexuality, like every other behavior, is undoubtedly influenced by both biological and societal factors."


More to follow….amicus

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Homosexuality & Genetics
+

"There is no evidence that shows that homosexuality is genetic--and none of the research itself claims there is. Only the press and certain researchers do, when speaking in sound bites to the public." --Jeffrey Satinover, M.D., The Journal of Human Sexuality, 1996, p.8

"To date, no researcher has claimed that genes can determine sexual orientation. At best, researchers 'believe' that there may be a genetic component. No human behavior, let alone sexual behavior, has been connected to genetic markers to date...sexuality, like every other behavior, is undoubtedly influenced by both biological and societal factors."


More to follow….amicus

Yeah, his final sentence sums up the whole behavior phenomenon as we understand it so far. A combination of the biological and environmental factors and there are a few queries about the genetic component. On that I don't have a full opinion but I have seen some very interesting experiments with the sexuality of animals. Overall my personal theory is that it is probably a hormonal and neural basis like many personality traits and that the initial or default settings of these hormonal and neural pathways may or may not come from a clear genetic base.

The important thing to remember about genetics is that just because something is not clearly and fully genetic, doesn't mean it's entirely environmental. The biological components, neural pathways, hormone levels, and automatic systems often override societal expectations. A kid could be taught utter non-violence from a young age and yet, when it comes to the fight and the adrenaline and testosterone are flowing, he may be more a beast than a Buddhist.

You already know my position on your overall theory and how it's wrong on historical basis alone, so I won't spend much more time on that.

Hopefully this thread will be less flamebaiting than your others (a vain hope I know, but oh well)

 

[thenry]

On a slightly different note than the other thread, if homosexuality boils down to a choice, musn't heterosexuality also have been a choice?

 

[Clare Quilty]

While there may or may not being a genetic marker for homosexuality, there is research that suggests that there may be a physiological substrate for homosexuality. Specifically Simon LeVay's study of the anterior hypothalamus hints at a homosexually dimorphic brain, at least among males. Of course, even if this turns out to be true, it isn't necessarily genetic in origin. It could, for instance, be related to some hormonal event that happens in utero. Regardless, I'm nclined to believe that people are born with a predisposition toward homosexuality. I don't think it is a lifestyle choice among otherwise heterosexual individuals--at least where male homosexuals are concerned. I'm unaware of any similar research among lesbians.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

On a slightly different note than the other thread, if homosexuality boils down to a choice, musn't heterosexuality also have been a choice?

Game, set, & match.

---dr.M.

 

[destinie21]

sigh rolleyes sigh again.

 

[Liar]

I still stick to my original question in the other thread:

What
            does
                        it
                                    matter?

 

[Honey123]

I still stick to my original question in the other thread:

What
            does
                        it
                                    matter?

I am with Liar on this...really, does it matter?

 

[gauchecritic]

It matters because if they can put the cause down to a gene they can then go on to find a cure.

This may then lead to the search and finding of all sorts of unabidable genes like pigmentation, or stature, or Hasidicism and then we can all be white uptight and full of shite.

Gauche

 

[Guest]

Oh, joy.



Lou