Do you believe that homosexual (me being one of them) have a gene in them that makes them homosexual, or that gay people have a different kind of brain than straight people?
2006-12-12 13:32:00 · 11 answers · asked by boobooshurt 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
I think it is genetic and several scientific studies have shown that it is.
2006-12-12 13:34:45 · answer #1 · answered by χριστοφορος ▽ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My understanding is it's some aberration in the genes that occurs while the fetus is developing in the womb. That's why gay people are born that way, and it is not a choice or a lifestyle. This is very hard for most straight people to understand, as they think gays prefer people of their own sex as an act of defiance against society. It's all in the genes, and it is not necessarily hereditary, which means that if a gay man should become a father, he doesn't necessarily pass this gene to his offspring. And yes, there are a lot of "closet" gays who are in a heterosexual marriage and do become fathers. They do this to keep their sexual orientation secret for many reasons, sometimes because of their careers. However, the brains of a homosexual or a straight person are functionally the same.
2006-12-12 14:13:46 · answer #2 · answered by gldjns 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have yet to identify a single gene that is solely responsible for sexual orientation. Like any complex human behavioral trait, one's sexuality probably arises from the contributions of multiple genes operating within certain environmental parameters. Moreover, this not something that is merely "thrown out there," as numerous researchers have reliably identified certain genetic, hormonal, and neuroanatomical variations between gay and straight men.
For example, it has long been known that gay men tend to have several older brothers. Notably, this trend is not observed among those with several older stepbrothers. This suggests that there is something operating in mothers who have given birth to multiple male children to increase the probability that her successive male children will become gay. One hypothesis is that her immune system learns to mount a response to male fetuses, which has the effect of somehow "feminizing" their brains in utero.
In addition, a recent study of identical twins who had been raised separately found that, if one twin was gay, there was a 66% probability that the other twin was also gay. Anything above 60% is usually taken to indicate a significant genetic basis. Although one would expect a 100% concordance rate if homosexuality were entirely genetic, one possibility is that, while the twins might share 100% of their genes, certain genes may be activated in one that are not in the other, and this is what accounts for the difference.
A study of dissected brains found that, on average, a certain cluster of cells in the forefront of the hypothalamus (the seat of emotions and sexual drives) was less than half as large in the brains of homosexual men as in their heterosexual counterparts. This is NOT a deformity, mind you, no more than having one's speech center in the right hemisphere instead of in the left. Brains vary.
Other studies have found that gay men have a significantly greater tendency to be left-handed than the general population, and their brains react to male pheromones the same way a heterosexual woman's does. Gay men also tend to perform better on verbal tasks than visuospatial tasks, which is the opposite trend among straight men.
In short, there is more and more evidence suggesting that homosexuality has a strong biological component.
2006-12-12 15:17:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before I continue it should be known that human sexuality and human procreation are two different things, one deals with pleasure and the other deals with continuation of the species (Darwins Realm)
At this stage no one in the scientific community knows, and we will not know for eons to come all we can do is speculate. Sexuality for th most part is so complex and very little is understood, that there neds to be more study on the subject.
On the genetic part of sexuality, scientist have designated as junk DNA, as this: "In molecular biology, "junk" DNA is a collective label for the portions of the DNA sequence of a chromosome or a genome for which no function has yet been identified. About 97% of the human genome has been designated as "junk", including most sequences within introns and most intergenic DNA."
So, there is so much more to know before we can claim something as a straight or gay gene, to complicate matters we only use on average less than 10% of or brain a complex organ with a lot of information in a small space. The Brain I think is more responsible for human sexuality than genes. Let us also not forget the harmones, which is also regulated by the brain and I also think plays a signigicant part in human sexuality developement.
I think that all species are capapble of a variety of sexual acts, but societal norms, which are prescribed, dictate how we should act in the human species. Not only that, the process of awakening our sexuality can become so uncomfortabl that some people don't know how to deal with it. Sexuality is still a taboo on a pervasive level in human cultures.
There are many theories and explanations as to why this is, but sexuality (human sexuality), discloses the intimate about us in a context the we are not mature on a social level to discuss openly for whatever reasons, be they cultural or other.
2006-12-12 13:55:10 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there is a gene-type thing that makes some people homosexual. I also believe that a percentage of homosexuals and bisexuals are just self made. They make a choice to like who they like. I mean..are you born straight? I don't think so...I think everyone makes the choice to be straight, which makes sense....but the oppositte choice is just as possible.
2006-12-12 13:37:06 · answer #5 · answered by gsa_adan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I see the current scientific research as definitive proof that homosexuality has a biological basis. Even if I didn't believe that, I would still be accepting of gays and in favor of gay marriage. Chris gave all the references for scientific proof. (great job Chris!)
2006-12-12 13:45:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there was this theory back in high school that it is genetically possible for males to be homosexual but not females. Females have xx chromosomes and males have xy chromosomes. Hence, all males carry in them the female chromosome.
2006-12-13 00:16:37 · answer #7 · answered by Mando 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is in my genes, I have gay people in my family that I am still meeting, just live and be happy with who you are. Peace. :)
2006-12-13 01:52:18 · answer #8 · answered by spiritcavegrl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really don't know all I do know is that it's not something you chose.I believe you're born that way. But now you have me wondering
2006-12-12 13:42:47 · answer #9 · answered by gitsliveon24 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is my personal belief that everyone is bisexual, i just think people dont realise it, or the ignore it, but also, if you strongly prefer women men are very boring
2006-12-12 13:41:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋