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Scientists Have Not Found the ‘Gay Gene’
theatlantic.com ^ | 10/10/2015 | Ed Yong

Posted on 10/10/2015 11:44:56 AM PDT by mjp

This week, a team from the University of California, Los Angeles claimed to have found several epigenetic marks—chemical modifications of DNA that don’t change the underlying sequence—that are associated with homosexuality in men. Postdoc Tuck Ngun presented the results yesterday at the American Society of Human Genetics 2015 conference. Nature News were among the first to break the story based on a press release issued by the conference organisers. Others quickly followed suit. “Have They Found The Gay Gene?” said the front page of Metro, a London paper, on Friday morning.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gaykkk; homosexualagenda; libertarians; medicalmarijuana
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To: MinorityRepublican
Homosexual covers a variety of behaviors and characteristics, including "gay", and all they have in common is a dominant sexual attraction for persons of the same sex. Some homosexuals are quiet and shun public attention. Some form long term relationships, Some do not. Some are monogamous, some promiscuous. Some are well assimilated into the straight culture, some are flaming queers.

The point is that homosexual orientation is an outcome variable, and can be arrived at by any of numerous routes. Heredity has yet to be shown to play a role, although pre- and perinatal influences are likely in a number of cases.

There is simply no one answer to the question of "nature vs nurture," and in fact we really don't need one sovereign answer. We just need to take people as they come.

21 posted on 10/10/2015 12:44:02 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: mjp

It doesn’t matter. Today’s “science” has become a political arm. Scientists will say their stats say what they want them to say, and the Sheeple will believe what they want to believe.


22 posted on 10/10/2015 12:45:42 PM PDT by keats5
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To: mjp

It would seem that a gay gene would have been selected out many moons ago.


23 posted on 10/10/2015 12:58:15 PM PDT by jwalsh07 (.)
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To: mjp
For anyone interested in a Christian biologist's even-handed roundup of research on the issue, please visit Genetics and Homosexuality: Are People Born Gay? The Biological Basis for Sexual Orientation. He concludes there is no scientific proof of it.
24 posted on 10/10/2015 1:05:21 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God IS, and (2) God IS GOOD?)
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To: mjp
Over here we had a poster insisting homosexuality was genetic like "mental retardation".
Nevermind that there is not, and has never been any proof of such whatsoever despite near thirty years of looking, multimillions of dollars and political pressure to find such.
25 posted on 10/10/2015 1:05:36 PM PDT by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: mjp

The money quote, and it applies to all epigenetic studies:

“It’s also plausible that someone’s sexual orientation influences epi-marks on these genes. Correlation, after all, does not imply causation.”

Epigenetics research studies for factors that are chemical in nature or which by some form of nurture [actions] produce chemical reactions that leave their mark on active or dormant genes, implying they are possibly factors in how/why a gene is or is not active. Few of these studies have shown how the epigenetic marker arrived (they are not inherited), only that it exists.

The ONLY “definitive” epigentic studies claiming to find a “gay gene” will have take gene samples at birth, of a very large group and then conducted their epigenetic studies 20 years later.

If the epigenetic markers are not there at birth, then “gay gene” or not, something in nurture (something in life experience) was a cause/impetus for them being there 20 years later. THAT would imply life experience, not someone’s genes was the “cause”.

It is telling that even the researchers failed to see the importance of the facts in their own data sample - 37 pairs of genetically identical male twins were “discordant”, meaning both of the two were not “gay”.

If THAT fact was not a scientific signal to them that their epigenetic studies needed to begin with gene samples at birth, and then wait 20 years and sample the surveyed group again, then their approach to science is altogether suspect. It would say that like far too many scientists today, they are not really scientists of a particular field but mere statisticians seeking to prove a statistical correlation exists and then promote that correlation as a cause.


26 posted on 10/10/2015 1:10:42 PM PDT by Wuli
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To: mjp

Guess this is bi-sexual phobia from the born gay folkes


27 posted on 10/10/2015 1:23:31 PM PDT by RginTN
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To: Wuli
I enjoyed your entire post and found it informative. I wonder how you'd react if I extended your final sentence's point as follows:

It would say that like far too many scientists today, they are not really scientists of a particular field but mere statisticians seeking to prove a statistical correlation exists and then promote that correlation as a cause, often doing so in order to demonstrate a further correlation with their godless, anti-JudeoChristian worldview.

28 posted on 10/10/2015 1:25:08 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God IS, and (2) God IS GOOD?)
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To: Hebrews 11:6

I understand your addition to my text. I didn’t use your ending phrase because while it might apply to some researchers many are just wrong about real scientific methods and strict adherence to the maxim that correlation is not causation. Some are that way because they themselves have been poorly taught in the sciences, some are just lazy, some are seeking more research funds and feel a need to “produce” and some have political agendas regardless and irrespective or religious beliefs. And yes some are super anti-religious and anti-G-d, like Mr Dawkins in the U.K.


29 posted on 10/10/2015 1:45:51 PM PDT by Wuli
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To: mjp

Maybe they just haven’t looked up the butts of the other genes yet.


30 posted on 10/10/2015 1:50:31 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Studies on identical twins separated at birth consistently show that the genetic component of male homosexuality is about the same as the genetic component for addiction to drugs, about 50-70%. The genetic component for female homosexuality is too small to measure.

My take on it is that male homosexual behavior is an addiction as much as anything else. As such, it is a disorder, like heroin addiction, and it has health effects that follow on such disorders.


31 posted on 10/10/2015 2:04:35 PM PDT by Chaguito
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To: Wuli

Nicely stated. Thanks. Like every human endeavor, science is full of very fallible humans, although many try to cloak it in the most august and impeccable altruism and nobility. We’re onto them.


32 posted on 10/10/2015 2:05:23 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God IS, and (2) God IS GOOD?)
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To: mjp

I’ve read that gay Gene prefers his name to be spelled jean.


33 posted on 10/10/2015 2:10:29 PM PDT by This I Wonder32460 (Ideas have consequences.)
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To: PGR88

Oh no, I am sure they will start a breeding program and only gay children will allowed to be born. The world is upsidedown..


34 posted on 10/10/2015 2:11:28 PM PDT by This I Wonder32460 (Ideas have consequences.)
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To: Chaguito
The genetic component for female homosexuality is too small to measure.

It's given that women are inherently bisexual.

35 posted on 10/10/2015 2:12:12 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican (.)
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To: mjp

How does a microbiologist tell the difference between a gay gene and a normal gene?


36 posted on 10/10/2015 3:12:44 PM PDT by bunkerhill7 ((("The Second Amendment has no limits on firepower"-NY State Senator Kathleen A. Marchione."))))))
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To: hinckley buzzard
Homosexual covers a variety of behaviors and characteristics, including "gay", and all they have in common is a dominant sexual attraction for persons of the same sex. Some homosexuals are quiet and shun public attention. Some form long term relationships, Some do not. Some are monogamous, some promiscuous. Some are well assimilated into the straight culture, some are flaming queers.

You imply that these outcomes are equally likely. Not at all. The small number who are monogamous are a teeny tiny percentage of the whole. The vast bulk of homosexuals, say 95%, are super promiscuous. Five Hundred to a thousand "sex" partners are regarded as typical of this group. They don't have "ménage à trois", they have menage a dix". Orgies with 8 people are not uncommon.

They are also heavily disease infested, and the vast bulk of any societies reservoir of nasty venereal diseases are kept alive by this group.

They also prefer children. They won't admit it because that sexual attraction is still too taboo for them to come out of the closet about, but the fact is that anyone who can be sexually attracted to a male butt hole, can find a child's just as interesting.

They also tend to kill themselves. Suicide is the number one cause of death among this group.

They are a sick group of people, and society used to lock them up in asylums prior to the 1960s. Back when the country was founded they simply hung them.

37 posted on 10/10/2015 3:21:07 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: MinorityRepublican

more like 50% cultural (because society allows it) and 50& perverted mind. genetics is zero. every study so far has come up with this same answer.


38 posted on 10/10/2015 3:31:26 PM PDT by fish hawk (no tyrant can remain in power without the consent and cooperation of his victims.)
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To: WhiskeyX
Per our conversation the other day. So, ultimately, what we have is an underpowered fishing expedition that used inappropriate statistics and that snagged results which may be false positives. Epigenetics marks may well be involved in sexual orientation. But this study, despite its claims, does not prove that and, as designed, could not have.

The author says it more eloquently than I could.

39 posted on 10/10/2015 4:43:57 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: fish hawk

You could put me on a gay planet filled with gay men and I wouldn’t be compelled to switch to their team. That’s why I think genetics are a factor here.


40 posted on 10/10/2015 5:13:47 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican (.)
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