If "gayness" has a genetic basis, and gays don't breed, how is gayness passed along through generations?

Answer 1

Experts suspect that homosexuality is a spontaneous genetically-based anomaly rather than an inherited trait, but nobody can say for certain.

Answer 2

More than one mechanism is possible.

Genetic means determined by genes. One way is to get genetic material from parents (inherit). During development, genetic mutations can occur and new "gene" variations can happen that neither parent had.

Genes can be "dominant" or "non-dominant". Technically, this means that each gene has 2 copies: one from mother, one from father. Some genes require that both parents have a copy of the gene for it to show up as a trait. If one parent only passes a given gene version to you, you will not get the trait. This is referred to as recessive traits. Now, if you father has such gene but you mother doesn't you father may pass it to his daughter and sons. They will not have the disease. If they marry someone with the same gene, their children have 25% chance of having the "trait".

There are many other ways, "gayness" can be passed. It is very technical and requires understanding of genetics and molecular biology.

While there is evidence that at least some gay people have genetic predisposition, this may not necessarily be true of all gay people.

Answer 3

That's not a bad question.

First off many gay men do have sex with women, and produce offspring. Moreover, there are now theories that the determing factors for homosexuality are often found in the mother. Check the web for some of the recent stories about women who have multiple sons are more likely to bear a gay son later in the birth sequence of the family. This points to a hormonal situation in the womb, which may or may not be related to genetic factor in the mother.

This still doesn't account for some of the twin studies, where two boys born at the same time end up on gay and one straight. What we do know at this point is that there are some differences physically in gay men, and that you can't turn somebody gay or straight. How EXACTLY it is predetermined at birth is still up for study.

Answer 4

Gays certainly do breed. Don't you know anyone who came out of the closet after having 3 or more children?

For parts of history they were basically forced to marry and have children to show they were normal. For other parts of history, homoexuality was expected, but they were also expected to have children to populate the cities. It's not so cut and dry as all that.

Of the older gay people I know, I'd say at least 3/4 have had a hetero relationship. At least 40% or so have been married. And a few had more than 1 child.

And John S! You are the nuttiest of the fruitcakes man. Wow!

Answer 5

1st off, there are plenty of homosexuals that breed. There are those that might donate at a sperm bank, lesbians whoo have artificial incemination, and those who have a family only to later in life realize they're gay so to say that homosexuals do not have children is plain ignorant.

As far as the genetic aspect of the question, it's almost the same as asking "if both my mom and dad have brown eyes and my siblings all have brown eyes, and my grandparents have brown eyes, why are mine blue?" it called a recessive gene. not all genetics are black and white and the answer right in front of you, somewhere along the past, there was someone in your family who had this trait and it got passed down to everyone in that bloodline, whether or not it becomes dominant is a matter of a drawing straws basically.

Answer 6

Funny cause i dont think any research have actually proven "gayness" is genetic. But if you mean by that is flamboyance, being or acting finesse can be something environmental, cultural or traditional- values of which passed along generations. Just as being a feminine mother or masculine father isnt genetic. Sure, you can relate it to familial background.. but sometimes whatever trials in one's life brings them, it leaves a big impact that it actually changes them.. shapes them to be better or worse. Someone who is raised with gay parents can actually turn out to be straight~because he/she believes that "that" thing is not for him/her. When one is educated, and one is able to decide to become gay or not or whatver, genetics is already way pass behind it.

Answer 7

The same way two blonde parents can produce a red-haired child. Not all traits are passed to every child but the genetic potential is there. If every trait were passed along ever time there would be no difference between one human and the next.

Answer 8

Gayness isn't genetic. Never seen two bucks in a field having their way with each other. Gays just don't want to admit that they a wrong and messed up so they make it a genetic thing so it's "not their fault, their born that way". B.S.

Answer 9

Whoa...
That makes you stop and think.... except for the "breeding" part.
Many same sex couples DO go out of their way to conceive through many methods that all couples do.
Even without today's technology, it has always been a matter of impregnation by hetrosexual methods.
The genetic basis is a proven fact. Even a small percentage of all other mating animals are "gay".
You paradox is not so simple.

Answer 10

I don't think all gays do not breed. Some gays live in the close and they do married with opposite sex.

Also, I think people are not completely "straight". Most of them have a degree of being very straight, some straight to being bi and gays.

In addition, we still do not know what genes that determine sexual orientation or is it a mutation?

These facts should give you idea that gay genes indeed passed through generations.

Answer 11

Let's go with your assumptions. Some genetic traits are passed on through combinations of two alleles. Let's use brown eyes vs. blue eyes. Let's call B dominant, and b recessive. You can be one of these combos:

BB = brown
Bb = brown
bb = blue

You and your partner each pass on one allele during reproduction. So you could be Bb, and your spouse could be Bb. If you each pass on the recessive b allele, your child could be bb, right? Blue-eyed even if you and your spouse are both brown-eyed. If homosexuality is genetic, it could work the same way.