Is homosexuality genetic?

[antiabort]

You say that being gay is not a choice right? So would that mean it is a genetic thing? This is an interesting article on the subject,http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/01/homosexuality-genetics-usa it turns out that gay men are more likely to have traits like being left handed, and having counterclockwise hair.

[MacMilker]

really? 60 minutes did a study on it
it seems in their study statistically gay men who have older brothers are like x% more likely to be gay & if they're right handed theyre another x% more likely to be gay
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/09/60minutes/main1385230.shtml

also no one knows if its genetic or not yet, it hasn't been discovered. mix ups in chromosomes dont always carry over into kids right? or do they, thats something I REALLY dont know about

[antiabort]

really? 60 minutes did a study on it
it seems in their study statistically gay men who have older brothers are like x% more likely to be gay & if they're right handed theyre another x% more likely to be gay
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/09/60minutes/main1385230.shtml

also no one knows if its genetic or not yet, it hasn't been discovered. mix ups in chromosomes dont always carry over into kids right? or do they, thats something I REALLY dont know about

Sorry I put the wrong link in the post, lol. I'll get to reading the one you posted.

[MacMilker]

Sorry I put the wrong link in the post, lol. I'll get to reading the one you posted.

go for it, its actually an interesting study. I think about it frequently. and since its a pretty high profile organization that did the study I would think it is fairly accurate

[Maxxie]

Partially. It's also due to a combination of other factors, like the enviroment you grew up in, cognitive traits (thought process, personality, et cetera), physical and emotional factors, and quite a few others, really. It's not entirely genetic, I just think genes put you at a predisposition to being gay.

[StoppingTime]

Kind of what Maxxxie said. It does have to do with genetics, however, I think that doesn't 100% decide anything. Yes, it depends how and where you grow up, and your own personal feelings can change it as well, but I don't think they really can 100%.

[Azunite]

Partially. It's also due to a combination of other factors, like the enviroment you grew up in, cognitive traits (thought process, personality, et cetera), physical and emotional factors, and quite a few others, really. It's not entirely genetic, I just think genes put you at a predisposition to being gay.

This. If genetics don't make you gay, then the enviorment will.

But that brings another question too, is homosexuality a choice or is it this "genetic" thing that some people have, or have higher percentages than other man and therefore homosexual.

[StoppingTime]

This. If genetics don't make you gay, then the enviorment will.

But that brings another question too, is homosexuality a choice or is it this "genetic" thing that some people have, or have higher percentages than other man and therefore homosexual.

I think for some people it could be almost 100% genetic, but probably, it will depend on how you grew up, and it could be quite hard to change your mind.

[embers]

I'm a firm believer that the most influential factor in your sexuality is genetic but that one's sexuality will also develop over time. But I strongly think that you cannot change your sexuality at will, it's a near impossible thing to do.

[kenoloor]

I'm a firm believer that the most influential factor in your sexuality is genetic but that one's sexuality will also develop over time. But I strongly think that you cannot change your sexuality at will, it's a near impossible thing to do.

This. I think that our identities as a whole are constantly developing, and sexuality is the same.

[antiabort]

I think for some people it could be almost 100% genetic, but probably, it will depend on how you grew up, and it could be quite hard to change your mind.

in your opinion, how do you think they would have to grow up?

[Efflorescence]

I think that it's genetic. People have tried to change their sexuality and they haven't succeeded because it is innate, independent of the environment I think.....

[StoppingTime]

in your opinion, how do you think they would have to grow up?

What do you mean?

[antiabort]

What do you mean?

How would one have to grow up in order for their sexuality to be decided?

[StoppingTime]

How would one have to grow up in order for their sexuality to be decided?

In which way?

[aperson444]

It could be triggered by genetic factors, but I doubt that there is an actual "gay gene". I would suspect that homosexuals have increased activity in the limbic regions or something of the sort, maybe some different alleles that control hormone regulation. However I would think that some event or experience would trigger homosexuality. Those are purely psychological and emotional factors.

[Syvelocin]

How would one have to grow up in order for their sexuality to be decided?

There isn't a set formula. I can't really think of anything that would sure-fire make you gay. Or that's even a common trait. Of course, people raised in a more liberal household have a higher chance of recognizing and accepting that they're gay instead of kids who are raised in a tight conservative household being taught that homosexuality is wrong, but I can't think of anything that would affect your sexuality itself. Honestly, the only thing I've really noticed having an interesting trend in it is abuse. Not all abused kids are gay and not all gays are abused though, of course. Of everything though, it's the most common of my experiences, and not really all that common either. But I know a few people who were neglected, abused, raped, etc. who turned out bi, gay, or transgender. I mean, we'll never know, but I'm sure I'd feel a bit different about guys if things didn't happen in my childhood.

Myself, I think it's mostly personality with a tiny bit of a genetic factor. I've explained before that I think it's as simple as having a thing for redheads.

[canadaski]

Take a stats course and you'll understand why it's impossible to understand the studies. I guarantee you that you would be able to give me any two sets data and I could find a correlation between the two, even if the correlation coefficient was neutral. There are far too many variables to account for. I analyzed a study that hoped to show the correlation between deaths caused from certain cancers and the hundreds of cigarettes sold per capita. There is one critical sampling bias; assuming that every cigarette sold was smoked, and smoked by someone from that district. Then there's the issue of the time period the data was gathered from. We all know that the develpment of lung cancer from smoke inhalation is a chronic illness. How can a chronic illness be represented accurately in a study with data gathered from one point in time? The study would be more accurate if it studied something related directly to the health of the individuals instead of just cigarettes sold or smoked.

Data can be manipulated in several ways. Many "trusted" studies do not come from trusted sources. Drug companies are a great example of who not to trust.

The cause and effect relationship could be different than stated. It could instead be that people with a counter clockwise hair growth are more likely to be gay. What if you get someone with a counter clockwise hair growth and they are left handed, then you have some data overlapping?

Anyway, I don't think that homosexuality is genetic. I'm the only gay one that I know of in my family history (who knows, maybe there were some but they were closeted). Also, I don't think it's likely that a genetic marker (if there were one) would lay dormant for that many generations. I guess one way to test the theory is to have a bunch of lesbians have kids with a bunch of gay men, wait until the children grow up and then examine their sexuality and see if the incidence is any different than heterosexual couples' children. If the kids did end up being homosexual, you could then do the same thing with the next generation. I don't think you'd get many volunteers for that study though.:D

I'd like to know why I'm gay, but I seriously doubt that

[Syvelocin]

^ Not genetic like that, I think the argument is just in whether homosexuality is some kind of "mutation" and that it's just the way you are from birth. I don't think it's genetic past what we've already seen in the studies. I mean, I have one gay relative, my uncle. All I can come up with. Of course, there's been a long line of devout Catholics though. Go up a bit in my family line and they're very homophobic. Not that it has anything to do with it though...

But I don't even think you're born that way.

[MisterSix]

I think its a birth defect

[kenoloor]

I think its a birth defect

Yeah, just like being born Italian. Little Guido pops out, DEFECTIVE.

[Jess]

I think its a birth defect

Why?

[Iris]

Genetic. Many many animals exhibit homosexual behavior, which is a clear indication that it's not (at least entirely) environmental.

[Ace_of_Spades]

I don't really think it's genetic, i mean i'm gay, and no one in my family is or any of my relatives or ancestors for as far as we (my family) knows. So.. i just don't really think it's genetic. Hehe, but what is funny is that i'm the last one who can carry on our last name, and i'm the only gay one ^^ Irony is sometimes kinda awesome.

[MisterSix]

Why?

Why not.
Something goes wrong in the womb and you pop out with more of a feminine personality and want to shag guys.

[kenoloor]

Why not.
Something goes wrong in the womb and you pop out with more of a feminine personality and want to shag guys.

Your lack of a stable basis for this opinion is ridiculously apparent.
What about feminine guys who are straight?
What about masculine guys who are gay?
You're connecting gender identity/expression to sexual orientation and that's wrong. They deal with separate areas of our sexual identity, and have no such correlation.