Posted on 06/19/2005 8:47:14 PM PDT by Crackingham
As the culture wars rage over gay rights, a flock of sheep at Oregon State University may help answer a key question behind the controversy: Is homosexuality a matter of choice or biology? The Corvallis herd includes a group of rams that scientists delicately refer to as "male-oriented." These animals consistently ignore females and bestow all their amorous attentions on members of their own sex.
Researcher Charles Roselli says a decade of study suggests sexual orientation is largely hard-wired into the sheep's brains before birth. Now, he's trying to figure out how that happens, zeroing in on genes and hormones. In a bold test of his ideas, he hopes to engineer the birth of gay rams by altering conditions in the womb.
Sheep aren't people, but the Oregon work adds to a growing body of research that bolsters biological explanations for sexual orientation across species — including humans. Despite those scientific findings, some religious groups say homosexuality is a lifestyle that can be treated, if not prevented. One such group, the conservative Christian organization Focus on the Family, is sponsoring a one-day conference in Bothell Saturday. The social and political implications of the research are impossible to ignore, leading to unease on both sides of the gay-rights debate. If science proves homosexuality is innate, is there any basis to deny gays equal treatment — including the right to marry? But if scientists unravel the roots of sexual orientation, will it some day be possible to "fix" people who don't fit the norms or abort fetuses likely to be born gay?
Much of the cutting-edge research is being conducted in other countries, because the political pressure cooker in the United States makes it difficult for scientists to get money, said Brian Mustanski, who juggles studies of the genetics of homosexuality with his main work on HIV prevention at the University of Illinois, Chicago. But controversy can't obscure the facts, he said.
"It's pretty definitive that biological factors play a role in determining a person's sexual orientation."
Austrian scientists reported this month that switching a single gene was enough to make female fruit flies rebuff males and attempt to mate with other females. Swedish researchers recently found the sexual center of gay men's brains lit up when they sniffed a pheromone-like chemical from men's sweat, but didn't respond to a chemical from women.
And last fall, Italian scientists offered a possible explanation for the persistence of gay genes — even though evolution tends to weed out traits that discourage reproduction. The team from the University of Padua found that mothers and aunts of gay men had more offspring than female relatives of heterosexuals, suggesting genes that influence homosexuality in men may increase fertility in females.
That the evidence comes from such disparate directions leads scientists to suspect several different biological pathways may lead to homosexuality. Both genes and hormones appear to be important. Nor do researchers discount the possibility that social factors may play a role.
"I tend not to be a nature-versus-nurture kind of dichotomist," said Roselli, of the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine in Portland. "I think there's probably a very complex interaction that's going on between both biology and the environment that is involved in determining these types of behaviors."
Some plants reproduce through parthenogenesis. Some species of animals are promiscuous or have harems, others are monogamous. Data from the animal world has nothing to do with the human species. Moreover, the morality of homosexual activity does not depend on what cause homosexual orientation.
I'm skeptical about studies claiming that homosexuality is determined at birth because there are such overwhelming correlations between homosexuality and growing up in a single-parent household, and also sexual abuse at a young age.
However, if this is true it puts gay activists in quite a pickle. There now may be a cure for homosexuality. Parents would have to decide whether or not it is something that should be cured... I think the gay activists would lose that battle.
Is pedophilia genetic or chosen? Does it matter?
I'm continually amazed that people try to justify homosexuality by pointing to what a bunch of wild animals are doing.
There are a lot of things my pets do that I'd NEVER do! ;^)
A dog/cat washes its butt with its tongue.
Consider a human culture as recent as the Greek city states. Certainly heterosexual couples have far more breeding capacity than the culture could support. What do you do? Either kill a lot of people through war, famine, or other risky ventures, or have a number of people breeding at lower than maximum rates.
Homosexual activity lowers breeding rates. The "Sacred Band" of Thebes was a regiment of young men who were assigned with their male lovers. Their subtracting from the productive breeders could be counteracted by the benefit of having a mobile group of soldiers ready for risky missions.
Lesbians also provide some stability at home, and reserve breeding capability.
"Austrian scientists reported this month that switching a single gene was enough to make female fruit flies rebuff males and attempt to mate with other females."
Sure, it probably makes them insane.
There was that twin study, which the homosexuals hoped will prove that "they just can't help themselves, they are just born that way", it turned out it did NOT prove that there is any genetic link to homosexuality.
And exactly where did they get those rams?
"Born gayyyyyyy... as gay as the wind blows... as gay as a PINK rose.... BORN GAYYYYYYY!!!!" (picture gay guys running in slo-mo across the savannah... the wind in their highlighted hair...)
The sexual perverts and their enablers are really relentless in their crusade to have their destructive perversion normalized.
The so-called "right to marry" schtick is really getting pathetic - gays have never been denied any "right to marry". They have just as much a right to get married as anyone has.
I know what your trying to say, but be carefull, because that sounds exactly like a PETA talking point and one they have been using for awhile.
I think its more then that.
The real number of homosexuals in the population is much lower then the faulty Kinsley study (whose results have never, ever been duplicated).
With such a low (but vocal) percentage of the population there must be more multiple factors.
Then a cure may be possible? Maybe with stem cells?
Depends on who you ask.
NAMBLA (which defines and considers itself a homosexual organization) would say genetic.
Interestingly enough, most gay groups say its chosen.
Profound words to contemplate...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.