Will Medical Technology "CURE" the Gay Gene?

Question

Before you all reply saying that Gay cannot be "cured" because it is not a disease or affliction, please consider the following. Once medical technology has determined which gene is the "gay" gene and can then turn it on/off with certain medicines, a test for "gay potential" can be given in utero (as is done with certain birth defects) and if the parent chooses, medicine to deactivate/activate the gene can be given. If we operate on the premise that most parents will not choose a homosexual lifestyle for their children (due to the high amount of social stigma associated with such a lifestyle), is it safe to say that homosexuality will become eradicated once the technology to do so in utero is developed?

This question doesn't say we SHOULD turn off the "gay gene" if it exists, but rather asks if it will ever be a possible alternative to expecting parents. PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS BEFORE YOU POST, OTHERWISE YOU'LL JUST LOOK IGNORANT. For examples of this type of ignorance read some of the below answers.

Answer 1

Before I answer this question, think about the people who are having children with all the new technology we have now. For instance, at my hospital we have a significant percentage of surrogate moms delivering for gay couples. These people are usually very wealthy, successful, intelligent and well traveled and I *know* they do not consider themselves flawed. Sure, like we all do they want healthy children but in their heart of hears, I am sure there is nothing they would like more than to have their own gay-identified children - don't we all want our children to be like us? Of course, we do, that's why most parents have a hard time when their children "come out".

Another contingent - already some deaf couples are purposely having deaf babies, meaning not treating conditions that will lead to deafness, purposely procreating when their deafness is genetic and refusing to abort if they are carriers of this affliction or gene that causes deafness. Why? Well, they don't consider themselves disabled and they consider deafness to be an acceptable, even desirable lifestyle variation. Gay people are much the same and I'm not sure that I disagree with them. I don't believe in making people *purposely* deaf, or *purposely* gay but I'm not sure I believe it eliminating it either. They are natural variations and they are not incompatible with a fulfilling life like some things are (like anencephaly). So, if there were a "gay gene", and it was possible to eliminate it, personally, I don't see a reason or a need to do so.

However, I see it coming. There will be a day, maybe in my lifetime, maybe not - where babies will be cloned and people will be bred for their gender or desirable traits (anyone see Gattaca?) I'm not happy about it at all, but I bet it will happen.

Answer 2

Even if it's true that homosexuality is caused by a single gene (I do believe that people are born gay or straight, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's something as simple as a single gene) I just don't see medical science going to those lengths any time soon. We don't even have the option yet to turn off genes that have the potential to cause actual diseases or birth defects; why would we waste research money seeking to eradicate hemosexuality when cystic fibrosis is still killing young people? Once we've eradicated or cured every congenital disease known to man, someone might get the bright idea to go after homosexuality, but like a previous answerer said, hopefully by the time we reached that stage we'd be enlightened enough that the social stigma would be gone.

Answer 3

Its my understanding that sexuality is not so simplistic as to be operated by a single gene, and sociologists have found that sexuality is rarely black and white, many people fall somewhere in between. I think theres probably a lot of factors that go into sexual preference and while science might be able to isolate biological causes, I doubt theres a simple 'cure' that could be potentially created. And to be honest, I don't see the need for one, why not spend more time researching how to fix actual problems like hereditary diseases, there aren't any negative physical aspect to being homosexual. I suppose cultural constraints can be harder to deal with, but in the grand scheme of things I think it'd be a lot easier and frankly more positive for society to accept that some people aren't attracted to the opposite sex and get over it.

Answer 4

There is no known gay gene. I think it's down to brain structure, and studies do provide some evidence for this although it isn't conclusive.

I find it insulting that you would want to just turn it off. The only problem with homosexuality is society's perception and acceptance of it, which is improving all the time in the West. Being gay has made me depressed, self-harm and suicidal but I wouldn't change it for anything because it's also made me passionate about issues of liberty and human rights and has generally made me a better, more grown up person.

Like Jonny above said, let's turn off your stupid gene.

Answer 5

It would be more encouraging to think that most parents (and other people) will become more tolerant. That is the problem, not the sexual orientation of their children. In a world that is rapidly over-populating itself, perhaps that technology could be used to ensure that there are more, not fewer, gays, which would cut down on the birth rate.
Tolerance is the key to so many problems we have -- tolerance for other races, for other religions, for other cultures, and for other sexual orientation. Once we have that, we can use our technological skills to find cures to things that are real diseases, like cancer, tuberculosis (which is making a comeback) Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's -- the list goes on and on, and tweaking gay genes just isn't on it.

Answer 6

By the time medical technology has advanced far enough to enable single-gene selection, society will hopefully have left its rampant homophobia far behind (as many European governments - most recently Spain - have already done).

And don't forget: you can't cheat Mother Nature. Nature always finds a way. Homosexuality is perfectly natural.

Answer 7

Homosexuality has a very small genetic basis, and a large environmental basis. hence the much greater chance of being gay if you have a lot of older brothers.

Besides, i beleive that most sane people will not even have this test performed. Why not just select for the blonde hair blue eyed little hitler that you want?

Answer 8

There are no sexuality genes.
There was a research that claimed to have found the gay gene, but it was a hoax. Vast majority of scientist say there is no sexuality gene.

It's all psychological in my opinion.

Answer 9

Why would want to erase it?
Just let people be what they want to be and deal with it.

Besides they just can't find the 'Gay Gene" Out of Billions and billions of DNA if it were a real Gene it would be impossible to find.

Answer 10

Will you be happy when they can cure your "stupidity" gene???