Posted on 05/26/2006 12:40:46 PM PDT by DBeers
Researchers are attempting to discover a genetic linkage to sexual orientation by studying one thousand pairs of gay brothers. This five-year study being conducted by researchers from Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute, Northwestern University and the University of Chicago will be the largest study of this kind and is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
This study follows a similar genetic study, conducted in the 1990s that found some genetic correlation for sexual orientation.
That original study was conducted with 40 pairs of brothers and revealed evidence that there might be a linkage. When subsequent research couldn't replicate these findings, the scientists realized that they weren't working with a large enough sample size to provide the statistical power required to advance the research.
Previous twin studies have pointed to evidence that the linkage is due to heredity rather than environmental factors, but until the researches can isolate the genes that directly affect sexual orientation, they can't be sure.
"Family studies tell you that something is familial, that things tend to cluster in families," says Dr. Alan Sanders, MD who heads the gay brothers research study. "Then we ask what else tends to cluster in families. Genes do."
There is not a lot of research in this area but, like most genetic research, it is controversial.
"Genetics is controversial, says Sanders. "And specifically sexuality research, but this is where there is a great deal of interest."
"Folks don't like this kind of research, that shows that sexual orientation is genetically based," he says. "It undermines the argument that it is a choice."
If they find a genetic link for sexual orientation, then the argument goes, you don't blame people because they have blue eyes, why would you blame them for their sexual orientation? This kind of research undermines the choice argument and that bothers some groups who are out to prove that sexual orientation is something one chooses.
The genetics that Sanders and his colleagues believe is responsible for sexual orientation is complex genetics where multiple genes and environmental factors contribute to the trait, as in the case with intelligence.
"Some folks might have enough of a genetic contribution that they are going to be very intelligent no matter what, others might have a better chance, but it will depend on key things in the environment," he says. "That's the way a lot of things are that we study,"
Researchers also say they believe that more than one gene is responsible, rather than a one-to-one correlation - as in heredity - for something like eye color.
"Genes do more than one thing," says Sanders. "They have more than one function. Maybe the gene that contributes to sexual orientation does something else as well."
He says each gene contributes a varying amount to each trait. This is especially true for behavioral traits and personality traits such as novelty seeking, aggression or violence. Not just one gene is involved.
Sanders says the biggest challenge with this kind of research is finding the one thousand pairs of gay brothers. He and his colleagues have been searching for participants for several years and have recently beefed up their recruiting efforts and expanded the search worldwide.
Participation is simple. Interested participants are first asked to fill out a brief questionnaire. Then, they submit a blood sample or DNA saliva test. "That's the hardest part, the thing that requires the most effort is having blood drawn," he says. "We're hoping to switch, to DNA samples from saliva soon. That should help out."
All information obtained from participants will be kept confidential and will not become part of any medical records Sanders says.
It's also responsible for lisps, zig zag finger snaps and head bobs.
And thumping cigarette ashes with
the fore finger instead of the thumb.
"Sanders says the biggest challenge with this kind of research is finding the one thousand pairs of gay brothers. He and his colleagues have been searching for participants for several years"
Seems like he has an operating hypothesis, a support group, staff, funding and just about anything a researcher could ask for except subjects.
Maybe we can help him out.
What's ironic is that whether they do or not, *you* already have...
It would not be at all difficult to poison pill this "research" by infiltrating sleeper heterosexuals if one had a mind to do so...
Just acknowledging the fact that it would be possible to do so says much about the supposedly implied objective and sound scientific premise of this and other "scientific research" into innate "homosexual orientation"...
Homosexuality is not a condition, it is a means of expression; it's fun, exciting, dangerous and gets you noticed, what's not to like?
Actually, the irony is in even suggesting that "research" such as this, being severely flawed from the outset, could possibly yield any of the results it aspires to "determine" (fabricate)...
A thousand words. I would venture to guess he is probably more interested in maintaining funding -discovering anything would be incidental...
"Double your pleasure, double your fun"
That is so sicko........... ;^)
The gay men I know all have hetero brothers. And that's down to a person. And I've known at least a couple dozen gay guys over the years. Job-sharing with one at my part-time job right now in fact.
My nephew and niece, brother & sister, are both gay and they have two brothers who are straight
Same molester?
Say what? If you're implying that there is no known genetic component of alcoholism, or that such a component has been ruled out, you're mistaken.
See for example:
Genomewide linkage study in the Irish affected sib pair study of alcohol dependence: evidence for a susceptibility region for symptoms of alcohol dependence on chromosome 4New findings on the genetic influences on alcohol use and dependence
Confirmation of association of the GABRA2 gene with alcohol dependence by subtype-specific analysis
Strike two...
My brother will be on Bravo at 9PM tonight for a TV special. Go figure/. .
How exactly is the methodology "severely flawed" (be specific -- why do you find pedegree and linkange analysis to be unreliable, and in what manner?) and what specific evidence do you have that these particular researchers will "fabricate" results? That's a serious charge, you should substantiate it if you're going to make it, lest you baselessly slander people who do not deserve it. Remember that part about "bearing false witness"?
You sound as if you're expressing your own bigotries, and not basing your attacks on any actual knowledge of the methodology or the integrity of the researchers. Please explain.
...only if one were willing to be grossly dishonest with the goal of obscuring the truth and producing bogus results that dishonestly "supports" one's agenda-driven preferred outcome.
Is that what you're advocating? That's what it sounds like. If so, it's ironic that you would accuse the researchers of doing what you yourself are advocating.
Wouldn't you actually prefer to let the research produce valid results instead? Or like the line in the movie, can you "not handle the truth", whatever it may be?
Yes, I read that, since it was the line I was responding to. Unlike you, however, I am capable of realizing that the sentence was ambiguously framed, thus my question about what exactly the poster meant when he wrote it. Why don't you let him answer for himself instead of butting in with your misguided "help" which misses the point entirely?
Strike two...
That's okay, you still have one to go before you're out. I can't say that I'm optimistic about your chances, though -- you seem to have a tendency to reflexively post before having through things through sufficiently.
Monozygotic twin studies can lead to only one conclusion, that being that genes are not determinative in sexuality. Contributory maybe but certainly not determinant.
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