Biological origin of homosexuality
 

The answer may lie in epi-marks, ‘temporary switches’ typically erased from generation to generation, that can be passed from father to daughter or mother to son.
By Christine Roberts / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, December 11, 2012, 6:11 PM

Today is the first day that same-sex couples can legally wed in Washington state.

Scientists say they may have discovered the source of homosexuality.

The answer may lie in epigenetics, or how the expression of genes is controlled by “temporary switches” known as epi-marks, researchers from the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis explained in a study released Tuesday.

Sex-specific epi-marks are usually “erased” from generation to generation.

But when they do not disappear, they can be passed from father to daughter or mother to son, resulting in homosexuality in children, scientists suspect.

“Transmission of sexually antagonistic epi-marks between generations is the most plausible evolutionary mechanism of the phenomenon of human homosexuality,” Sergey Gavrilets, the study’s co-author, said in a release.

Researchers have long believed that sexual orientation had some hereditary component.

However, scientists say that homosexuality, in terms of evolution, cannot be solely genetic, because the trait would eventually disappear given that homosexuals aren’t expected to reproduce.

Epi-marks, on the other hand, are thought to have an evolutionary advantage that keeps them within the population.

For instance, some epi-marks work to protect a female fetus from becoming too masculine if testosterone spikes in late pregnancy.

“These epi-marks protect fathers and mothers from excess or underexposure to testosterone — when they carry over to opposite-sex offspring, it can cause the masculinization of females or the feminization of males,” William Rice, the study’s lead author, told U.S. News & World Report.

Rice said that epi-marks are “highly variable” and only those that are especially strong would potentially lead to homosexual children.

The evolutionary biologist said that while his theory still needs to be tested on parents and their children, it is the most plausible explanation so far.

“We've found a story that looks really good," Rice said. “This can be tested and proven within six months. It's easy to test. If it's a bad idea, we can throw it away in short order."

Read more: Scientists uncover possible source of homosexuality - NY Daily News

Liberal nonsense. Everybody knows being gay is a choice.

I used to think it was a choice but over the years, as I got to know know people in the LBGT community I came to realize that it's really organic, a "wiring" thing kind of like someone with ADHD and they're not just acting this way.

What this article says makes a lot of sense.

Just like being a democrat.:D

Choice, biology, WGAS? As long as you are not forced to join in the festivities, it is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. I, for one am not interested in understand the gay, transgender, etc, etc community. I don't give a rip. They leave me alone, I leave them alone. Understanding motives is for people who believe in Voodoo or psychology. Neither are important.

No different from pedophillia, at least according to the experts from the great enlightened northern community of Canada!

"You raise the issue of pedophilia. Let me just make some distinctions for you.

First of all, pedophiles are people who prefer prepubescent children. They're not interested in 15-year-olds who have an adult body shape or anything like that. They're not interested in those kinds of people. They have quite a restricted area of sexual interests in terms of the kinds of body types that their victims have. There is no evidence that this sort of preference can be changed through treatment or through anything else.

Treatment for those offenders shades into management, where you essentially have to teach someone to live within their sexual preference structure. They have to find other kinds of outlets. They have to avoid high-risk situations. They have to do all those sorts of things. But I think that most people would agree that this kind of sexual preference pattern—an actual preference for prepubertal children—is not alterable by any kinds of current treatments." Dr. Vernon Quinsey

"For instance, it is a fact that real pedophiles account for only 20% of sexual abusers. If we know that pedophiles are not simply people who commit a small offence from time to time but rather are grappling with what is equivalent to a sexual orientation just like another individual may be grappling with heterosexuality or even homosexuality, and if we agree on the fact that true pedophiles have an exclusive preference for children, which is the same as having a sexual orientation, everyone knows that there is no such thing as real therapy. You cannot change this person's sexual orientation. He may however remain abstinent." Dr. Hubert Van Gijseghem

Committee on Feb. 14th, 2011 | openparliament.ca

Explain how these descriptions differ from the way heterosexuals are attracted to members of the opposite sex.

:rolleyes:

No, it comes from listening to "Village People" songs too much

Does 'masculinization' and 'feminization' translate directly into homosexuality? By all appearances it doesn't.

Macho .... macho... Man ...... Jim wants to be a Macho Man..... :D:D:D just kidding my friend.

lol no worries...


But --why is your dog staring at me like that?

So are you arguing that that there is no difference between consensual (same sex adult relationships) and non-consensual (pedophile) relationships?

It seems like this is saying that the root cause of both behaviors may be similar but I don't believe that it's appropriate to lump both resulting behaviors into the same category. Anyone that would do this is confused or trying to start trouble.

Hence my question. He did seem to imply the above relation with the opening statement highlighted in bold.