Where is the medical evidence that there is a gay gene?
483225
i highly doubt that there is any proof what so ever\n\n"Scientists are currently uncertain as to whether homosexuality is primarily caused by environmental or genetic factors. The uncertainty arises because much of the available data involves correlations. But the controls have gotten better, so that it is now possible to reject some of the competing models."\n\nbesides ppl choice who they love and who they r attracted too
219241
Scientists have reported that they've found an "extremely unusual" trait in the cells of some mothers with two or more gay sons, providing more evidence to suggest that homosexuality might be inherited.\n\n\nMothers of multiple gay sons were about six times more likely than other women to process their X chromosomes in a certain way, researchers discovered.\n\n\nResearchers aren't entirely sure what the findings mean, said study co-author Sven Bocklandt, a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA. Making things more complicated, about 75 percent of mothers of multiple gay sons don't have the trait.\n\n\nStill, the study, released Tuesday in the journal Human Genetics, raises plenty of questions, Bocklandt said, especially as researchers try to figure out whether homosexuality has genetic roots and if there truly is a "gay gene" -- or genes.\n\n\n"What everybody wants is the gene, and we don’t have it yet," Bocklandt said. "But this is an independent confirmation that the X chromosome is involved."\n\n\nBocklandt and colleagues looked at a phenomenon known as X-chromosome inactivation, in which cells inside the bodies of females automatically turn off -- or inactivate -- one of their two X chromosomes. That leaves them with one working X chromosome -- just like males, who have a single X and a single Y chromosome.\n\n\nNormally, each cell in a female's body randomly turns off one or the other X chromosome. In some cases, such as when families share a genetic disease, there is "extreme skewing" -- one X chromosome is more likely to be turned off than the other, Bocklandt said.\n\n\nIn the new study, the researchers looked at 97 mothers of one or more gay sons and 103 women with no gay sons to see what their blood cells did with their X chromosomes. The researchers recruited many of the women with the help of PFLAG.\n\n\nThey found that nearly a quarter of the mothers of multiple gay sons inactivated the same X chromosome -- in other words, nonrandomly -- compared to just 4 percent of the women without gay sons. Of those with one gay son, 13 percent inactivated the same X chromosome.\n\n\nDr. Ionel Sandovici, a genetics researcher at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, England, who is familiar with the research findings, cautioned that the study is small, with just 44 mothers of multiple gay sons being examined. More research in larger groups must be done to confirm the results, Sandovici said.\n\n\nThe research does provide "circumstantial evidence" that the X chromosome contributes to the development of male sexuality, Sandovici said. But "we still understand very little about molecular mechanisms of sexual orientation, and this seems to be rather a complicated biological puzzle."\n\nBut of course its Nature vs. Nurture and its possible that the person could just become gay because of his environment/experiences or just be born that way.
325706
What makes a person gay?  That is the million dollar question.  First you have to decide whether genes or environment make a person act male or female.  Could you take a male baby and do a sex change, raise it as a female and have him/her lead a totally normal life?  (This was actually done once but only because a circumsion went real bad)  Answer is no;  why?  Because it is in our genes to identify us as male or female.\n\nWhat if you didn't identify yourself as male or female?  Isn't it a little weird that gays have feminine characteristics and lesbians male characteristics.  Did they just adopt these when they made their "choice" to be gay (as you think)?  Or did thinking like and identifying with the opposite sex seem more natural because of their physical and mental characteristics.  Imagine a prissy little boy who couldn't play sports and had a high pitched voice.  They were never accepted by the other boys and over time identified more with the girls.  Sure they don't have a "gay" gene.  But the question is, can genetics cause someone to identify more with the opposite sex.  I'm not saying that all homosexuals actually want to be transvestites.  I'm just saying that boys could have always wanted to be "one of the girls", or vice-versa for lesbians.  \nHomosexuality is a complicated mix of nature and nuture.  I don't believe there are specific gay genes, but they are definitely inherited characteristics that under the right environment could cause an individual to adopt a gay lifestyle, even at an early age.\nBy the way, scientists may believe in a lot of things like spirits, angels, god, aliens, life-on-other-worlds, etc.  that can't be proven.  They just know that science can't be used to get other people to believe in these as well.  These things are faith and have to be adopted independently from science. \nBy the way, this is coming from a heterosexual, spirtual, scientist, married man of three daughters.
274977
There's not any probed theories to answer this one, but i will send you some links to information about this that i found in the APA American Psychological Association\n\nhttp://www.apa.org/topics/sbehaviorsub1.html#whatis\n\nWhat Causes a Person To Have a Particular Sexual Orientation? \n\nThere are numerous theories about the origins of a person's sexual orientation; most scientists today agree that sexual orientation is most likely the result of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. In most people, sexual orientation is shaped at an early age. There is also considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality. In summary, it is important to recognize that there are probably many reasons for a person's sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different people. \n\nIs Sexual Orientation a Choice? \n\nNo, human beings can not choose to be either gay or straight. Sexual orientation emerges for most people in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience. Although we can choose whether to act on our feelings, psychologists do not consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed. \n\nWhat About So-Called "Conversion Therapies"? \n\nSome therapists who undertake so-called conversion therapy report that they have been able to change their clients' sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. Close scrutiny of these reports however show several factors that cast doubt on their claims. For example, many of the claims come from organizations with an ideological perspective which condemns homosexuality. Furthermore, their claims are poorly documented. For example, treatment outcome is not followed and reported overtime as would be the standard to test the validity of any mental health intervention. \n\nThe American Psychological Association is concerned about such therapies and their potential harm to patients. In 1997, the Association's Council of Representatives passed a resolution reaffirming psychology's opposition to homophobia in treatment and spelling out a client's right to unbiased treatment and self-determination. Any person who enters into therapy to deal with issues of sexual orientation has a right to expect that such therapy would take place in a professionally neutral environment absent of any social bias. \n\nIs Homosexuality a Mental Illness or Emotional Problem? \n\nNo. Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals agree that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or an emotional problem. Over 35 years of objective, well-designed scientific research has shown that homosexuality, in and itself,is not associated with mental disorders or emotional or social problems. Homosexuality was once thought to be a mental illness because mental health professionals and society had biased information. In the past the studies of gay, lesbian and bisexual people involved only those in therapy, thus biasing the resulting conclusions. When researchers examined data about these people who were not in therapy, the idea that homosexuality was a mental illness was quickly found to be untrue. \n\nIn 1973 the American Psychiatric Association confirmed the importance of the new, better designed research and removed homosexuality from the official manual that lists mental and emotional disorders. Two years later, the American Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting the removal. For more than 25 years, both associations have urged all mental health professionals to help dispel the stigma of mental illness that some people still associate with homosexual orientation.
911131
People are born gay. It is scientific fact that there are biological differences between homosexual and heterosexual people.
964126
Not surprising that the "gay problem" is almost negligible in asian countries, since homosexuality is punishable by death in most of these.  You rarely get true statistics from the closet. As for the African community, you need to go back to anthropology class.  There are a lot of African tribes where homosexuality is acutally encouraged, or openly accepted as part of the social climate.  In college we studied several of these communities - in one in particular, the right of passage for a boy to become a hunter or warrior is for him to drink the semen of the strongest male member of the tribe.  You think he drinks it from a champagne glass?   It is obviously a little bit of both - genetics and circumstance. Sexuality is as individual as fingerprints - no two people are truly identical in their proclivities.  Whose to say one is right and one is wrong? We're just different, as nature intends us to be.
39794
I don't believe there is such a thing as being born gay. There has been no scientific data to back it up, though rumors say there is. (If anybody could show me some, from credible doctors, I'd appreciate it). Just having sexual thought about another member of the same sex doesn't make a person gay. Curiosity is natural. This is really one of those "try it and see how it works out" kind of deals
714682
In short, it is partly a mental health issue-but in no way a negative issue as people would first jump into conclustion. \n\nLet me explain. There are several theories as to why a person is 'born' gay. The most prominent I have read is a work by Simon Le Vay. He determined - through autopsy - that gay men and straight men have one single difference: the size of their hypothalamus (a gland in the middle of your brain and well known to be the source of sexual stimulation in human beings). With gay men it is small and fluffy were as in straight men, it is solid and large. He repeated this experiment with lesbian and straight women and found the reverse. Straight women had small/fluffy gland were as lesbian has large/denser gland. \nSo hypothalamus size wise: \nGay men = Straight women\nLesbian women = Straight men\n\nFollowing years of studies, he determined that this gland is developed before birth. When he examined pregnant mothers during period of pregnancy he found that this gland gets developed during the 6th month of pregnancy. If the mother body thinks she has a daughter, she would give Oestrogen (female hormone). If she thinks she has male son, she would give Testosterone (male hormone). For some un-explained reason, the mother would do this switch of hormones. Depending on how long this hormone is given, the child may come up as Bisexual, straight acting gay guy, camp gay guy, or in extreme cases transsexual (a person who believes he is in the wrong body!).\n\nAnd if you are wandering how a bisexual man/woman hypothalamus would look, well it is medium size/denisty, they got mix of hormones and thus they would like both!\n\nIn the animal kingdom, we assume something similar happens. Homosexual animals have been proved to exist in Lions, Zebras, Bulls, Dolphins, Dogs, and many other animal species. I saw a documentary on National Geo graphic called 'Wild Sex', focusing on this and other unexpected trends in the animal kingdom. For instance, gay or lesbian swans are known to mate for life! In another documentary that I also happen to see was shown on TV 4 about two years ago called 'Gay animals', discussed an experiment on a gay bull in Texas. They isolated the bull during the mating season, so as to make the animal desperate for sex. Then they released him to only 10 cows. As much starved and agitated for sex, the bull would only bully the cows but would never mate with them. Two weeks passed and nothing changed. Then they released another bull, and as expected the gay bull would only try to mount the straight bull! Gay animals have been around for many years, but traditionally were only explained as just confused animals! Very much what some people still think gay and lesbians people have mental problem and are confused...trust me, the totally gay ones are not!
444425
Not yet, but scientists are working on it. Scientists have successfully grown eggs out of sperm cells in fish (see article). One day it will be possible for gays and lesbians to have biological children.\n\nhttp://www.livescience.com/animalworld/060206_fish_story.html
192260
Well, MY OPINION (as there is no scientific proof) would be that it is genetic.\n\nFace it, in a society where homosexuals are RIDICULED, would you choose to be gay?  \n\nAlso, do you CHOOSE to be heterosexual?  Do you CHOOSE to brown eyed? Left handed? 6ft tall?\n\nOh, and if they can prove that alcoholism is genetic (there is proof of this), why can't homosexuality be genetic?
249989
That is a tricky question, but I think it should be possible. I don't think you are referring to genetically modifying homosexuals such as many other answers, but using this as an example to other areas of human race. Lets for a second assume being gay is not genetics, but a choice. Murders and rapist are said to have some genetic defects also, but as it relates here we will say they don't, so we could apply some behavioral techniques while they are still young in order for them to make better choices in their lifes.It won't be easy, but with the right techniques at the right time anything is posible..
785208
Before stating "it can't have been in you ever since you were born" in your question, you may want to check out some scientific studies on the matter.\n\nMy first source shows that homosexuality for males has been linked to the Xq28 in males; second source is on a genetic link of the X chromosome to a gay person's mother; third source is on gene variations on the X chromosome; fourth source states that it "confirms that there is a strong genetic basis for sexual orientation, and that for some gay men, genes on the X chromosome are involved," and the last source is on a link between brain structure and homosexuality.
291769
Maybe because it's genetic and not a choice.\n\nYou should worry more about saving your own imperfect a s s rather than casting judgment on the gay community.
193025
kinda throws a kink in the debate about homosexuality hermaphrodites can be either male or female only a genetic test at the beginning of their life can tell as they get older and go through puberty their true sex becomes evident
149166
My answer, no. And as a matter of fact, I find that homosexuals happen to be the most enjoyable, honest, compassionate "group" of people I have met. "What harm is their choice, doing to your life", is my response to homophobes.\n\nBUT ... Boy is this going to set a few people on their ears if the findings are true !!\n\n( released today - 2/24/06)\n"The arrangement of a mother's genes could affect the sexual orientation of her son, according to a new study."\n\n"The finding, detailed in the February issue of the journal Human Genetics, adds fuel to the decade-long debate about whether so-called "gay genes" might exist."\n\nhttp://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/060224_gay_genes.html\n\nMakes one wonder if this finding is confirmed, if the pro-lifers will allow abortions for these "misfits & sinners". After all, God created our genes, didn't he ?? *ahem*
390146
No, because such an instinct would probably be genetic. If there was such an error, then those people would not reproduce and therefore would not pass on that gene! The gay "error" you're talking about is not the same because it is not actually genetic in the hereditary sense.
1090605
No it's not substantiated.  I wish their was some long-winded argument, but there's simply NO evidence that points to people being born gay.  Simple as that.