Posted on 03/13/2006 8:16:14 PM PST by presidio9
An academic has enraged homosexuals with his claim that recipients of the sperm of gay donors should be told that a "gay gene" could be passed on to the child.
The suggestion has been dismissed as pathetic by a gay rights organisation.
Genetics experts, however, generally agree there is evidence of a genetic component to sexual orientation – but argue the link is complex and ill-defined.
After a complaint to the Human Rights Commission, New Zealand's biggest fertility service, Fertility Associates, has decided to accept sperm from gay men – previously barred because of a supposed higher HIV risk. Responding to the move, Canterbury University associate professor of genetics Frank Sin called for potential recipients of sperm from gay donors to be told that "the gay gene(s)" could be passed on to the child.
Dr Sin told The Dominion Post that it was "not daydreaming" to suggest that sexual orientation could be inherited. Animal models had clearly shown the existence of a gene that controlled sexual behaviour, he said. Though there was nothing so conclusive in human studies, there was strong evidence – particularly from twin studies – of a significant genetic component.
Environment also played a role, Dr Sin said. Though he had nothing against homosexuality, Dr Sin said people had the right to know the trait could be passed on.
Gay Association of Professionals spokesman Allan-John Marsh said Dr Sin's suggestion was insulting and pathetic. Though the association agreed that being gay was something innate – rather than a choice – there was no proof of a gay gene.
Neither was there good evidence that sexual orientation was inherited, he said. His sister, parents and uncles and aunts were "secure in their heterosexuality". In his entire extended family he knew of only one other gay person – a cousin.
Even if there was an inherited component, it was insulting to suggest that people should be warned of it, Mr Marsh said. "It implies that being gay is somehow inferior. It's not a disease, not a handicap, even taking the view that you are born this way. So be it."
All the genetics experts spoken to by The Dominion Post agreed it was highly likely that there was a genetic component to sexual orientation. However, the nature of that was complex and a warning that the characteristic could be passed on would be a slippery slope, they said.
Wellington Hospital endocrinologist Robyn Toomath said it was widely accepted that both genetics and environment played a role in sexual orientation.
However, there were many traits and diseases that had been shown to be inherited.
Dr Toomath questioned why sperm recipients should be warned against one issue and not others.
Victoria University molecular biologist Geoff Chambers said Dr Sin was "not the lunatic fringe" and right to say that sexual orientation was the result of interaction between genes and environment, but the genetics were likely to be very complicated.
Fertility Associates Wellington medical director John Hutton said that, in the absence of any conclusive evidence of a gay gene, it would be irresponsible for his organisation to tell potential recipients that sexual orientation could be passed on.
I ask the pro-choicers, if the gay gene exists, would they have a problem if someone decides to abort a baby because it is shown to have it.
This is an outdated and misleading claim/discussion point, at best. There's not necessarily a single "gay gene," but there is some evidence that SOME of the tendencies might be hereditary in genetic material (see lizma's comment for one possibility. However, the true nature of genetic influence on an individual is proving to be much more complex than a simple "single gene"...
Besides, "being born that way" is more than just a claim of genetics. Maybe it's something like a problem with fetal development, etc. I'm also fascinated by the implications of the Emory research on PTSD on this question.
Besides, I think we should use the term "homophilic" for tendencies and preferences, and reserve "homosexual" for acting upon that. Some do not act upon those urges.
All this being said, of course the parents should be notified!
What type of medication are you on???
If homosexuality is learned behavior, it follows that the lifestyle of twins is drastically different from normal children, and that of identical twins is drastically different from fraternal ones. That just means that no valid scientiic deductions can be made. You can't control the samples.
*uh-oh* There's a guy named Gene working in my department....
I ask the pro-choicers, if the gay gene exists, would they have a problem if someone decides to abort a baby because it is shown to have it.
The "gay gene" has never been found, because it probably does not exist.
Yeah. And if it could exist, how does one pass it to the next generations? I mean, I'm a few years out of Biology 101, but how do gay people produce children?
"Some congenital conditions occur due to something going on in the body of the mother, rather than the child. Which might be the case with homosexual orientation."
When somebody claims to be ex-gay the world is suddenly skeptical. The world doesn't believe their claim, the world doesn't believe their testimony and their declaration that they are ex-gay.
When somebody uses the same standard to believe the declaration of gays but ignores the declaration of ex-gays, they should ask themselves why they believe one group and not the other.
2006
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2004
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2003
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2002
The Importance of Twin Studies
The Gay Gene?
The Fading 'Gay Gene'
The Biological Research on Homosexuality
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Gay-To-Straight Research
Is Sexual Orientation Fixed at Birth?
Is Homosexuality Genetic?
Homosexual Researchers Debunk 'Born Gay' Urban Legend
Gender Identity Disorder
Finding a Needle in the Ocean
Facing The Truth About Homosexual Behavior
2001
The Innate-Immutable Argument Finds No Basis in Science
The Gay Gene: Going, Going...Gone
A Change In Thinking
2000
What Is 'A Homosexual'
Lust, Violence & Genetics
1999
What Causes Homosexual Desire and Can It Be Changed?
Born What Way?
1995
How Might Homosexuality Develop? Putting the Pieces Together
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