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Gay Is Not All in the Genes
http://news.sciencemag.org ^ | 30 June 2008 | by Michael Balter

Posted on 03/28/2013 8:33:24 AM PDT by Maelstorm

Why are some people gay? Most researchers who study sexual orientation think that both genetic and environmental factors play a role, but the relative contributions of each remain unclear. A new study of Swedish twins reinforces earlier findings that environmental influences--including the environment in the womb--may play a greater role than genes.

Scientists studying complex human behaviors often turn to twin studies. Researchers look at both identical and fraternal twins to see how often they share a trait--a parameter called concordance. The greater the concordance among genetically identical twins compared with fraternal twins--who share only half of their genes--the more likely that genetic factors are involved.

Earlier twin studies of sexual orientation have suggested varying degrees of genetic and environmental influences. But they have suffered from the limitations typical of all twin studies. These include small sample sizes and assumptions that identical and fraternal twins both have the same family environments; if identical twins are treated more similarly by their parents than fraternal twins, for example, this could be mistaken for a genetic influence. Recruitment biases are also an issue: Some studies have enlisted participants who openly identify themselves as gay, who may not be typical of the entire homosexual population.

To try to get around these problems, a team led by Niklas Langström, a psychiatrist at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, recruited subjects from the Swedish Twin Registry, the world's largest. All 43,808 twins born in Sweden between 1959 and 1985 were invited to participate in a Web-based survey that comprised a wide range of questions about personal behaviors and experiences. The team ended up with a sample of 3826 twin pairs, of which 2320 were identical and 1506 fraternal. Of that sample, roughly 5% of men and 8% of women reported sexual activity with a member of the same sex at least once during their lifetimes. Then they plugged the survey responses into a standard mathematical model for comparing identical and fraternal twins.

The results, published online this month in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, confirm earlier findings that identical twins are more concordant for same-sex behaviors than fraternal twins are but only modestly so: In men, genetic effects appeared to explain 34% to 39% of the differences between the two twin groups, whereas in women, genetics accounted for only about 18% to 19% of the difference--a finding consistent with other research showing that sexual orientation in women is not as rigidly determined as it is in men.

As for what environmental factors might be at play, the authors point out that these might not be entirely social but could also be biological. For example, some studies have suggested that exposure to prenatal hormones or even the mother's immune system could influence the sexual development of a fetus.

J. Michael Bailey, a psychologist at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, who led earlier twin studies of sexual orientation, calls the new study "good, important, and one unlikely to be bettered in the near future." But Jonathan Beckwith, a geneticist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, says that the new work fails to overcome a number of problems faced by previous twin studies. He notes that the final sample included only 12% of the males in the Swedish registry, leaving open the possibility of recruitment bias. And Beckwith says that the failure to control for family environment could inflate estimates of genetic influence.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gay; gaygene; genes; genetics; homosexualagenda; scotus; sourcetitlenoturl; ssm
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To: Wiser now
Claiming atheism is exactly what my daughter’s “wife” has done.

Just keep praying for your daughter -- and for the salvation of the "wife".

I am reminded of the last conversation I had with my girlhood best friend, who had fallen away from the church in young adulthood when she married a domineering secular guy. When in her 60s she had terminal cancer, I asked her what she thought would happen after she died; and of course she said, "You're just gone. That's all."

I said, "What if you're wrong? What if what you learned in Sunday School really was right, and your rejection of God will have eternal consequences? What if you don't get to say how it is, but there is a stronger force than you who will decide what happens to your soul?" At this point, tears were running down my face. "If there's a heaven, I don't want you to be missing from my eternal life, my friend!"

She said, "I'd go back to church, but my husband will kill me!"

To which I incredulously replied, "But you're already dying, girl! You've given up your religion for him for all these years. He can do this last thing for you, drive you to church."

Next I encountered them was at her funeral (we lived far apart). They both had formed a relationship with a church and pastor, and although her husband remained unconverted, he did arrange a beautiful, reverent Christian funeral for her that was very well attended.

I thanked him; and I thanked Him.

81 posted on 03/29/2013 12:36:05 PM PDT by Albion Wilde ("Commies out of DC!" --Raoul Deming, 1954-2013)
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To: BenLurkin
Snake in the Grass or Billie Jean? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc8gdFdhP7k

Bob Fosse -- amazing. thanks for the diverting moments!

82 posted on 03/29/2013 12:43:25 PM PDT by Albion Wilde ("Commies out of DC!" --Raoul Deming, 1954-2013)
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To: Albion Wilde

Thank you so much for your moving story. It has given me some encouragement.
I have a total of four daughters and currently all of them have fallen away. One is indeed married to such a man, she spent this past week posting that red gay marriage logo on her Facebook page. She has three children. Another is busy with a new boyfriend, but he was raised right and there may be hope there. Her two kids are believers. Another is becoming very aware that she needs to start her toddler in church. She has even requested we do something as a family on Sunday even though her sisters are already committed elsewhere. My prayers for them are constant. My gay daughter lives in DC; the two oldest grandkids visited them there last week. I know the reason they want the kids to visit them is partly to show them the city and partly to indoctrinate them. Thanks for your encouragement.


83 posted on 03/29/2013 1:03:05 PM PDT by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: Maelstorm
They used to put all the blame on mothers. Then later it was fathers.

Parents and parenting play a role. So probably do genes, hormones, birth order, abuse, seduction, chance, habit.

But a lot of parents who understood and tried to avoid all the stereotypes -- tried not to be smothering and overprotective or distant and emotionally unavailable or brutal and abusive or judgmental and hypercritical -- still ended up with homosexual children.

From that I conclude that it has to be more complicated than people assumed a generation or two ago.

84 posted on 03/29/2013 1:13:46 PM PDT by x
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To: x

It is more complicated however the “born this way” tack is totally rigid and ultimately there is a choice to act on homosexual desires and decide to live as a homosexual or whatever type of sexual person you desire. Its not just parents, its not all biology because biology is just the machine, its a combination of things. I know one person personally whose first sexual encounter was being molested as a young man by his uncle. Those that would dismiss this event as not contributing to his sexual orientation are in denial. Does that mean that all gays are molested no but its pretty clear that being sexually abused is more common for gays than the general population. I’m familiar with the hormonal research and morphology research and the genetic research and epigenetic research. The biological contribution for homosexuality is about as predictive as it can be for other behavioral traits which is somewhere in the range of 20-30% which suggests a strong environmental component. Also regardless the degree of causality of the biological component it does not explain the tendency of gay males especially towards obscenity,sexual exhibitionism, rampant promiscuity, and far too much tolerance for blurring the lines where underage males are concerned. I totally support being tolerant but this doesn’t mean the whole of society should be redesigned to elevate and norm homosexuality and other sexual “deviance” at the expense of decency and heterosexual norms.


85 posted on 03/29/2013 3:28:18 PM PDT by Maelstorm (This country wasn't founded with the battle cry "Give me liberty or give me a govt check!")
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To: sickoflibs

I wonder how many homosexuals lose much of their attraction to the same sex as they get older? I have wondered if a percentage of people grow out of homosexual attraction.


86 posted on 03/29/2013 6:26:03 PM PDT by cradle of freedom (Long live the Republic !)
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To: papertyger

You are definately right about the pro-gay “ad campaign” that we have all been subjected to for some 20 to 30 years. I was switching channels on my tv when I caught a minute of a sitcom. There was a young girl about 11 who was teaching her parents about gayness. It was very heavy handed propaganda and not funny at all. This reminded me why I stopped watching ABC, CBS and NBC years and years ago.


87 posted on 03/29/2013 6:42:47 PM PDT by cradle of freedom (Long live the Republic !)
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To: edcoil

Was there a split in the family when your brother announced his was gay?


88 posted on 03/29/2013 6:44:43 PM PDT by cradle of freedom (Long live the Republic !)
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To: Sans-Culotte
What you say about people believing that they have the right to be sexually satisfied every day of their life probably may contribute to what seems to be a rise in gay behavior. There are people who “will try anything once”, who in an other era would not be encouraged to try experimentation with homosexuality. Today they may be more curious about homosexuality because of all the "advertising" and may be more willing to try it. When they try it, they may develop a growing inclination towards gay sex and less of an interest in hetero sex.
89 posted on 03/29/2013 6:53:19 PM PDT by cradle of freedom (Long live the Republic !)
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To: tiki

A little passive-agressive getting back at dad it seems.


90 posted on 03/29/2013 7:20:05 PM PDT by cradle of freedom (Long live the Republic !)
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To: cradle of freedom; Gilbo_3; Impy; NFHale; BillyBoy
RE :”I wonder how many homosexuals lose much of their attraction to the same sex as they get older? I have wondered if a percentage of people grow out of homosexual attraction.”

That is a good point because couples almost always lose their sexual desires sooner or later with age if they don't die first for obvious reasons.

I can see that happening with the men more than the wimmin.
Wimmin bond together closely without sex much more naturally than men do. This is true with hetros too.

That reminds me now of a related point I haven't thought of for a while that National Review did a great article on it very long ago:

Men and Women are always very different (gender) emotionally psychologically and physically even with men gays and wimmin gays but in the debate in ‘civil rights for gays’ versus classic immorality/morality this points has been lost.
Unfortunately when Republicans allow the terms of the debate to be framed in that way they always eventually lose.

The point is that Gay men are far more self destructive than gay wimmin are for reasons that should be obvious. This fact has been completely left out of the current debate especially when presented to young adults who will not accept 'Its wrong just because it is'

91 posted on 03/29/2013 8:29:48 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position.)
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To: ohiobuckeye1997
Absent or distant father.

Controlling, clinging mother.

Homosexual molestation or indoctrination at a young age.

They know what the recipe is.

92 posted on 03/30/2013 2:54:20 AM PDT by Eagles6 (Valley Forge Redux)
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To: cradle of freedom

o-yea. For a few years - eventually like all families do it smoothed itself out - then he died of AIDS.


93 posted on 03/30/2013 8:24:42 AM PDT by edcoil (If the man was accused of leadership, there would not be enough evidence to convict him.)
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To: AnonymousConservative

it is disputable.

no it is not beyond debate. It is like blaming prison enviroment homosexual behavior as mere sex genes. there is no science or logic to that.

The USSC did not adress the immutable trait issue. they just take the born that way myth for granted. (see kagan)


94 posted on 03/30/2013 2:42:27 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Eagles6

These explanations were common before the gay take over but now all alternative views to the politcally correct view are censured and totally banned from discussion. This is one of the most distructive aspects of the gay movement. Freedom of speach is the first casualty of the gay movement.


95 posted on 03/31/2013 7:56:43 AM PDT by cradle of freedom (Long live the Republic !)
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To: sickoflibs

Gay men are more promiscuous and thus disease ridden and more given to drug use (meth).

But I hear some lesbians have very violent relationships.


96 posted on 03/31/2013 12:41:51 PM PDT by Impy (All in favor of Harry Reid meeting Mr. Mayhem?)
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To: cradle of freedom

True.


97 posted on 03/31/2013 2:05:25 PM PDT by Eagles6 (Valley Forge Redux)
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To: Impy
RE :&rdquoBut I hear some lesbians have very violent relationship”

That is fixed by the new version of the VAWA Obama just signed.

98 posted on 03/31/2013 5:19:40 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position.)
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To: papertyger
I wonder how THAT ONE evolved!

What would be the effect of a gene that causes anyone (male or female) who possesses it to be extremely strongly attracted to females? I would posit that even if such a gene might be detrimental to the reproductive success of any female carriers, it might conceivably double the rate of reproductive success among male carriers. If it did so, it could be expected to be passed on through succeeding generations. Likewise a gene which causes carriers to be attracted to males might harm the success of male carriers, but boost the success rate for female carriers. Again, a gene which did so could be passed on through succeeding generations.

If one considers it likely that sexual attraction is not controlled by a single gene, but by many, one should expect that many individuals would not have a perfectly-balanced set of sexual-attraction genes, but many would have a set that is biased in varying degrees toward males or toward females.

99 posted on 04/03/2013 4:02:58 PM PDT by supercat (Renounce Covetousness.)
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