Is homosexuality genetic or is it a choice?

Question

Here's the thing that perplexes me. From an evolutionary standpoint it would be impossible for homosexuality to be genetic. Those that don't reproduce don't pass on their genes. It would have to be a very short lived gene mutation if that were true. By this logic, it must be a choice.

Sean, dude, that's what's wrong with this freakin world. My question is offensive? Are you high? I don't give a rip if you are gay, straight, or like beasts.

The point is not whether I agree with a lifestyle choice but rather to question the controversy surrounding the topic. NOW, the question is whether or not homosexuality has a genetic link. According to Darwin in "Origin of the Species"a particular gene is passed to offspring. If that gene is superior at enabling that species to thrive then it overwhelms those of the species not displaying that gene. So, it can be assumed that a "gay" gene would certainly limit the inclination of those displaying the gene to reproduce heterosexually. Given that, the "gay" gene would not readily replicate itself into the gene pool of that species. That's why you don't see exclusively homosexual behavior among ANY animal species other than homo sapiens.

Answer 1

It CAN be genetic without being hereditary. There are scientific studies which link chemical concentrations with gender identity, but for the most part, sexual preferences are formed by life experiences during childhood. Do we CHOOSE our sexual preferences? Not really. Most sexual preferences are manifestations of our subconscious. This isn't like becoming a vegetarian or born-again Christian.

Answer 2

Unless you are a geneticist, it probably isn't a real good idea to start making assumptions about genes, and mutations, etc. The whole subject is amazingly complicated. I'm sure of this because we have one in the family. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff the common person believes about genetics that just aren't true.

Anyway, I do believe it's genetic. I've known way too many gay people to believe anything else. Sane, reasonable people who would not choose to live on the fringe of what most consider "normal" society if they actually had a choice. The same sane and reasonable people who aren't masochists and would never choose to be something that so many people hate and fear and smear with character assassination.

In Abnormal Psych this year, we were shown a recent scientific study that has definitively identififed a male gene component to being born gay. From a personal standpoint? I have a gay cousin that we grew up with, went to school with, and was as close to us as our own brothers and sisters. He was gay, and we knew it, long before he came out to his family. We also knew his two brothers and his sister, all straight, all of them two years apart and raised exactly the same. It is what it is, and what it is is a natural sexual orientation. Some people fight it all their lives and leave straight marriages they desperately tried to make work. Do you really think that a father or mother would break up a family and put their children through all the changes unless they just couldn't take living a lie anymore? I've known more than a few of these people, and none of them were the seeking attention type or mentally ill in any way. They simply couldn't continue being something they weren't to try and appease society, or their parents, or their churches any longer. It's sad how many get hurt in the process. If this society could find a way to stop being so damned judgmental this kind of thing could stop happening.

Answer 3

I do not suppose your pal is watching for a piece of writing that claims being a gay is genetic or a alternative. I suppose he already is aware of like so much folks homosexuals that its no longer a alternative. Now that does not imply that there are not a few folks available in the market who selected to be homosexual however for your pal's case and plenty of different homosexuals, it is not a alternative. What your pal is watching for is reputation from God. He desires to grasp that God nonetheless loves him and he is not by myself. Please inform him God loves all of his kids it doesn't matter what folks say, it doesn't matter what legislation are created. No one is best. I have no idea what discipline you're from however here's a internet site. Show it to him. MCC is a Metropolitan Community Church that welcomes homosexuals and preaches love no longer hate. Please inform him that the principal courting he has is the connection among him and God and it is a individual courting that nobody however him and God is usually a facet of. It is viable to be devout and homosexual.

Answer 4

It has clearly been shown to not be a choice in numerous scientific experiments, at least in those studied. There is of course the possibility that some do choose it. For the others though, this leaves two possibilities, genetic or developmental.

Obviously, this is a trait that would be selected against. However, homosexuals act like heterosexuals due to stigma in civilized society, so if it was a recent mutation this would help explain its continued existence. Additionally, a gene that is correlated with male homosexuality is also correlated with increased fertility in women. No causal relationship has been established yet, as you can't experiment on humans. Genetics is very complex, so you can't rule it out easily.

The other possibility is a defect during development. This is even harder to prove.

Edit: An extra Y chromosome is a fairly common trait that is absolutely not linked to homosexuality. It has been correlated with increased violent behavior, but that is another can of worms.

Answer 5

You are leaving out a crucial third choice in your question which is environment. The circumstances of a person's prepubescent life, their surroundings, how they were raised, etc. also play a role in that, I believe.
U make a great argument against the idea of homosexuality being genetic and I cannot seem to find anything to contradict you there.
As for choice, I don't think so. No sane person just suddenly decides to become a hated and victimized gay. It is a mental disorder in my opinion, but not something the gay person has any say in.

Answer 6

The fact of the matter is, no one knows for sure. There's no scientific evidence to prove either side of the argument. By default we generally have to accept that it is a choice since that seems to be the only gene that scientists can't isolate.

Stanford University has been doing a long term study of the correlation of homosexuality and traumatic events that occur early in someone's life. This isn't anything conclusive either, just psychological probabilities.

Answer 7

It's a choice, which is why I'm OK with letting people be gay if they want to. I don't want a Constitutional Amendment going either way on this one; I'm fine with gay people, but I don't want them foisting their views and ways on the rest of us.

Not to personally flame, but Elway, you're creepy. Saying that it's impossible for anyone who isn't a geneticist to understand this topic? That seems like a rather tiny step down the road of totalitarianism -- in which, by the way, a few elites control everything else because they're supposedly smarter and better than us mundanes.

Answer 8

ACTUALLY it can be both. In one study it was found that women and homosexual males brains' had key sections of similar sizes and vice versa. That is the key link and the biological explanation. This means A gay man's brain is/can be similar to a womans compared to a typical males. This coordinates a gay mens difference in response to pheromones. Here is just a few examples of research.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7791888/
http://www.bri.ucla.edu/bri_weekly/news_070410.asp
http://www.shaktitechnology.com/gaybrain.htm

An extra Y Chromosome DOESN'T explain homosexuality these are chromosome abnormalities . "XYY" syndrome leads to a supermale. XXY leads to a male which looks like a female

Answer 9

i saw a tv documentary which said:

gays and lesbians have been having children for thousands of year, passing down the gene but keeping it in the closet generation to generation

it is only now - with gay liberation - that we are seeing gay and lesbian behavour acted out

maybe with the possiblity of world wide gay liberation the gay gene will peter out

it's ironic that religion, the biggest promoter of homophobia, is actually helping keep the gay gene going strong

Answer 10

In men homosexuals, scientists have proven that they have an extra Y chromosome. In women, I think that most of the time it's a choice, but I've never seen any studies on it. You need to study zoology. There were and are some animals that have homosexuals in their ranks. And all these people who want to enter religion into the equasion then I suggest that you read about "Sins of the Father" based on Biblical data. I'm a Christian. You can hate the sin, but love the sinner.

Edit: You cannot trust Wikipedia! Go to Web Search, type in Homosexuals Extra Y Chromosome. There are many different studies on this that you can read. An Extra Y Chromosome can cause many different disorders. Homosexuality being one of them.