The future of genetics? (gays only)?

Question

Saw something on tv today that kinda got me thinking...
Lets say hypothetically that its 30 years in the future. Genetic engineering of humans is now legal, and parents can choose specific details for their children's phenotype and genotype (physical and genetic characteristics). Parents can also now choose whether or not their child is straight or gay.
Almost all parents who choose to have their child altered choose it to be heterosexual. In essence the entire gay population of the world is decreasing as children that would be gay are made straight.
There are no harmful side-effects from this engineering. All the children that would have been born are still born, only none of the ones that have been engineered are gay.
Would you object to this?

Answer 1

Sadly, you are almost certainly correct that this future is coming -- but a bit differently than you envision I think.

Genetics is neither my terminal degree OR my field of research -- however, my partner is a biochemist and we do follow the research ongoing.

Unlike fruit flies, among humans the structure will be found to be governed by more than one gene -- in addition, penetrance will not be above 50% maximum and I estimate it at 12 to 15% based on known and observed evidence. To genetically engineer children to be unquestionably straight will require the alteration of genes in several narrow bands. Xq28 almost certainly, but others as well. It will require eliminating families of genes with limited penetrance that almost certainly also link to other psycho-social-creative traits.

That's the nature of human genetics.

Will I object? Yes, I oppose eugenics, however gently presented. Will my objection matter? No, people want their children to all be alike, and the same -- like cookie cutter cutouts. What I say, what others say (a Republican state senator in Maine has already tried to pass legislation limiting this type of thing, he failed) will not matter. People will get their way. Homosexual children will be wiped out in the first world. And then, a hundred years later, the culture will figure out what they actually managed to destroy beyond a sexual preferential minority.

If I thought I'd be around then, I'd be glad to lay a significant bet on that outcome. Hundreds of higher species have significant, stable, homosexual subgroups. There is clearly a compelling evolutionary reason for the existence of gays in both animal species and humanity. That will be conveniently overlooked, until it is too late. Then we will learn what that compelling reason was.

I'm glad that I will not be here to see it.

Kind thoughts,

Reynolds
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Answer 2

"Funny" thing about this concept... those that would be first in line are those that babble on and on about "God's will". 'Course, these are the same folks that also fail to see the hypocrisy in using machines to keep a person alive indefinitely, rather than letting God decide if the person should live or die. Sexual orientation is only the tip of the iceberg; those that would tamper with sexuality would stop at nothing to assure the physical, mental, and social dominance of their offspring- and engineering out everything that makes a person individual and special- because that's what Jesus would want them to do.

Answer 3

Strongly. This is exactly why I worry that a genetic link will be found while LGBTs are still discriminated against. I am working on a sci-fi novel about this, too. I don't think it would have no effects. I do think it would make it a harsher world for existing LGBTs, and a different world for coming generations. Do you really think we need fewer Alan Turings and more James Dobsons?

Answer 4

I don't think there is a way something can be done with no harmful side effects. I mean if you watch TV and see any of those commercials for prescription drugs, like Yaz just to name one. My gosh the side affects are horrible and everything that we do to our bodies to change it in some way could kill us. I don't think I would want to change my child in anyway, what would give me the right to change him/her? The only thing I would say to correct would be like if my child was going to be born with his/her lungs on the outside of their body, something like that I would wanted corrected. As I would want my child to live and be free to be themselves... I'm also optimistic that when I'm 56 (30 years from now...) the world will be different and gay/bi/lesbians will be valued more than just being looked at like a disease that needs to be corrected. :)

Answer 5

Absolutely, everyone would eventually become cookie cutter versions of what society once was. There would no longer be individuality and would seemingly cause society to decay under our very feet. A world in which noone had to worry about disabilities would be wonderful on one hand but imagine a world were every being could be engineered with traits of G.W. Bush because of government control. It's just to scary to fathom.

Answer 6

I would object to this. I don't think that it is right to change someones life before they have the chance to chose on there own. I would have killed someone, if they had made me straight before I was born. I would want more gay people in the world.

Answer 7

Yes, I would object to it. I think that these things should be left alone. If everyone is the same, and everyone is invested in keeping everyone the same, nothing will ever change. The humam population will eventualy die becuase no one is adapting to new things, only trying to keep things the same.

Also more gay people will be in power in 30 years, so I can't see that being possible.

Answer 8

I'd like to hope not, but some people are loonies, yo.It's the idea of "Eugenics" i.e. a "superior" human race selected by their genes. But who's to say what is "superior" some people like blonde hair and blue eyes, I like dark hair and brown eyes. And I think gays are superior. I think its best we leave it up to random nature, because variation is the spice of life. If you're worried that religious zealots may be behind eliminating the "gay gene" then they would be hypocritical, by "playing God" which is against their own rules.

Answer 9

Albeit, it hasn't been easy, but why would I want to live in a world where everyone is exactly the same? Discrimination being what it is, we ought not be messing with God's will, and altering science in such a way, is doing exactly that.

Answer 10

I think I would object to it. I think having gay/lesbian people is good for the population-I guess we work at a way to keep the population under control? The population is crazy enough.. It doesn't need to increase.