Researchers Say Gene Changes Show Who's Gay

[Melech 9,900]

"U.S. researchers say they've come up with a formula that can show someone's s-xual orientation by looking at genetic changes. 

It's a controversial idea, and they have not made public the details of what they did. But the research, being presented at a meeting of genetics experts, suggests a variety of factors come together to help determine whether someone is gay or straight. 

"To our knowledge, this is the first example of a predictive model for s-xual orientation based on molecular markers," said Tuck Ngun, a researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine of the University of California, Los Angeles, who led the study. 

Other experts said Ngun may be going too far in saying he can predict someone's s-xual orientation by looking at his or her genes. His study group was very small. 

The idea that s-xuality can be found in the genes isn't at all new — Dean Hamer of the National Institutes of Health reported in 1993 that he had found a batch of genes linked with homos-xuality, and researchers have reported a variety of genetic findings since then. One thing they agree on: there is no single "gay gene". 

Genetic changes can be handed down from generation to generation, or they can be made as a part of living life, from the moment a child is conceived through adulthood. These are called epigenetic changes and while they don't change the underlying code, they can alter how a gene is expressed — how it works. 

"The observed epigenetic changes, particularly if from blood DNA, unlikely determine the complex behaviors, such as s-xual orientation," said Dr. Peng Jin, a professor of human genetics at Emory University. 

Ngun told an American Society of Human Genetics meeting in Baltimore that he looked at epigenetic changes called methylation in 47 pairs of male twins. Identical twins have the same underlying DNA, but the epigenetic changes can make big differences in what happens to them later in life. 

In 37 of the twin pairs, one brother was homos-xual and the other wasn't. In 10 pairs, both brothers were. 

Ngun and his colleagues came up with a computer algorithm, a formula, that suggested that patterns of methylation in nine regions were associated with s-xual orientation with 67 percent of the time. 

"Sexual attraction is such a fundamental part of life, but it's not something we know a lot about at the genetic and molecular level. I hope that this research helps us understand ourselves better and why we are the way we are," Ngun said. "

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/s-xual-health/researchers-say-gene-changes-show-whos-gay-n441211

 

Interesting 

[Brooke Hoegan 1,018]

Interesting 

I think that 47 pairs is waaaaay to small of a statistical sample to be drawing any conclusions from

It's all an assumption at this point

[Princess Die 1,864]

This is not ok. Y'all know when some Rebub ****tard gets in he's going to use this. 

[Goosey 3,017]

Wait. If the gay characteristics have been isolated, does that mean researchers will try to develop gene therapies to change it? 

 

This is not ok. Y'all know when some Rebub ****tard gets in he's going to use this. 

The workings of nature are "not okay"?  

[PinkJelly 1,825]

I'm in two minds about this kind of research. It's interesting to know, and furthers the fact we are 'born gay' and it isn't just a lifestyle choice. On the other hand it makes me nervous as to what they expect to achieve or do with the research.

Its interesting to hear they tested twin brothers too and found slight differences in the DNA of the gay twin. Does it mean he's really a twin at all if the DNA differs? 

[Bette Davis 12,742]

I think it's interesting to discover the science behind what makes people gay, but I fear at how this information could be used 

[Bebe 17,289]

I find it rather interesting that there is this fascination and preoccupation with finding out what makes people gay however we know so little about what makes somebody straight.
 

[Bye 3,947]

Does it mean he's really a twin at all if the DNA differs? 

The DNA is literally the same. Epigenetics are external factors such as the environment which alter how genes are expressed. The same gene can be expressed in a different manner (can have different effects).

[TiphEret 1,320]

I find it rather interesting that there is this fascination and preoccupation with finding out what makes people gay however we know so little about what makes somebody straight.
 

Because it's "normal to be straight" boo! No seriously I agree with you but what do expect in a heteronormative world? I wonder if the researcher are all straight though? Also he said s-xual orientation not gay or straight, maybe there is some shades of grey in between...

[Bebe 17,289]

Because it's "normal to be straight" boo! No seriously I agree with you but what do expect in a heteronormative world? I wonder if the researcher are all straight though? Also he said s-xual orientation not gay or straight, maybe there is some shades of grey in between...

Yeah, it's expected, but you would think the scientific community would be interested in the causes of all s-xuality. It seems straight people don't tend to ask or care why they are straight, it's not really something asked of them either.

I remember learning about this while I was doing psychology at uni. There is this bias and focus on the 'gay gene' or causes of homos-xuality. There are not many studies done on the cause of hetros-xuality, which would give us a clearer picture. They are likely to be related in some way anyway.

[Economy 52,861]

this is just further evidence that s-xuality is influenced by genes AND environmental/phychological factors

 

I always said s-xuality is too complex to be influenced by a single factor. I dont think its as simple as being born gay, but your genes may play some role on how likely you are to be on 1 end of the spectrum or the other

[arthurhmangum 4,408]

I'm gay and I still want to know how