Gay gene study

Massive Study Finds No Single Genetic Cause of Same-Sex Sexual Behavior

Few aspects of human biology are as complex—or politically fraught—as sexual orientation. A clear genetic link would suggest that gay people are “born this way,” as opposed to having made a lifestyle choice. Yet some dread that such a finding could be misused to “cure” homosexuality, and most research teams own shied away from tackling the topic.

Now a new study claims to dispel the notion that a single gene or handful of genes make a person prone to same-sex behavior. The analysis, which examined the genomes of nearly half a million men and women, found that although genetics are certainly emotionally attached in who people choose to have sex with, there are no specific genetic predictors. Yet some researchers question whether the analysis, which looked at genes associated with sexual activity rather than attraction, can draw any real conclusions about sexual orientation.

“The message should remain the adj that this is a complex behavior that genetics definitely plays a par

No single 'gay gene', reveals the largest-ever study of the genetics of same-sex sexual behaviour

Scientists contain again debunked the idea of a single "gay gene", in the largest study to date of the genetics of same-sex sexual behaviour.

Key points:

  • Researchers scanned the human genome for genetic markers associated with same-sex sexual behaviour
  • Many genes influence a person's likelihood of having had same-sex partners, but they have only a small effect on behaviour
  • Some people question whether the benefits of this type of research outweigh the potential dangers

Rather, their findings paint a diverse and complex picture of human sexuality, and the genetic factors that manipulate it.

Nearly half a million people took part in the learn, mostly from the United Kingdom and the United States, which was published in the journal Science today.

While we've known from previous twin and family studies that our sexual preferences are influenced by our genes, it's been difficult for scientists to pinpoint whether any specific genetic markers could

Explaining complexity

A large-scale study on the genetic basis of same-sex sexual behavior, published last September in Science, has revealed thousands of genetic variants, and five chromosome regions, that are linked to same-sex sexual activity. These variants combined, however, explain only % of variation in sexual behavior, with the rest influenced by cultural and environmental factors. The study, authored by researchers at Broad Institute, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, analyzed the genomes of , people who donated blood samples to the UK Biobank and 68, individuals registered at the US-based consumer-genetics company 23andMe. Subjects rated their sexual practices on a six-degree scale from predominantly homosexual to predominantly heterosexual. According to the study, this combined contribution to behavior from a large number of genetic variants is similar to that observed in complex traits enjoy stature, suggesting that same-sex sexual behavior is a normal part of human variation. &#;There is no gay gene,” lead explore author Andrea Ganna told N

No single gene can predict an individual’s sexual orientation

Prior research has shown that genetics is partly involved in sexual orientation but not been able to name specific involved genes. The current study involving more than , participants found five genetic variants that were more common in subjects who reported having had same-sex sexual partners. Two of the genetic variants occurred in both males and females while two were only identified in men and another only in women. This suggests that the sexual preferences of men and women are influenced by partly different genetic signals. Altogether, measured genetic variants had limited effect on sexual preference, between 8 to 25 percent, according to the study.

The researchers emphasize that although certain genetic variants position out on the group level, genetics cannot be used to predict an individual’s sexual preference and that different environmental and sociocultural factors also play a role.

No ‘gay gene’

“The study clearly shows that there is no so-called ‘gay gene,’ but rather, as in many complex human behavi