Comments on: Gay Genes? part deux http://science.kqed.org/quest/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/ Explore science, nature and environment stories from Northern California and beyond with KQED’s multimedia series Thu, 24 May 2012 05:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Barry http://science.kqed.org/quest/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/#comment-13630 Barry Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:28:16 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/#comment-13630 A recent study just came out that is the most comprehensive so far. Previous studies were hampered by the fact that researchers asked for people to be involved and so there was some self selection involved. This new Swedish study is population based and came to the conclusion that about 35-40% of male homosexuality is genetic. These numbers are still a bit dodgy because of the relatively low percentage of gays in any population and the potential under-reporting by people who do not wish to reveal they are gay. Arch Sex Behav. 2010 Feb;39(1):75-80. Epub 2008 Jun 7. Genetic and environmental effects on same-sex sexual behavior: a population study of twins in Sweden. Långström N, Rahman Q, Carlström E, Lichtenstein P. Source Centre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, P.O. Box 23000, 104 35, Stockholm, Sweden. niklas.langstrom@ki.se Let me know if this is enough for you. A recent study just came out that is the most comprehensive so far. Previous studies were hampered by the fact that researchers asked for people to be involved and so there was some self selection involved. This new Swedish study is population based and came to the conclusion that about 35-40% of male homosexuality is genetic. These numbers are still a bit dodgy because of the relatively low percentage of gays in any population and the potential under-reporting by people who do not wish to reveal they are gay.

Arch Sex Behav. 2010 Feb;39(1):75-80. Epub 2008 Jun 7.
Genetic and environmental effects on same-sex sexual behavior: a population study of twins in Sweden.
Långström N, Rahman Q, Carlström E, Lichtenstein P.
Source

Centre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, P.O. Box 23000, 104 35, Stockholm, Sweden. niklas.langstrom@ki.se

Let me know if this is enough for you.

]]> By: trisha ingle http://science.kqed.org/quest/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/#comment-13619 trisha ingle Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:15:03 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/#comment-13619 dear barry, can you please list all the different studies that have come to this conclusion and where/what school/hospital they were done? i mentioned the fact that being gay is genetic (not a choice) in a facebook post and i am being bombarded with, "you have no evidence" and "who the hell are YOU" and such. any help would be appreciated. - trisha dear barry,

can you please list all the different studies that have come to this conclusion and where/what school/hospital they were done? i mentioned the fact that being gay is genetic (not a choice) in a facebook post and i am being bombarded with, "you have no evidence" and "who the hell are YOU" and such. any help would be appreciated. – trisha

]]> By: Jeff Sprague http://science.kqed.org/quest/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/#comment-10985 Jeff Sprague Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:48:51 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/#comment-10985 Has human sexuality ever been compared to the diversity that describes handedness. Left-handed, right-handed, ambidextrous. As Kinsey describes 7 levels of sexuality (flaming homosexual to flaming heterosexual with several gradations in between.) Could the similarity be as simple as left handed equals flaming homosexual, right handed equals flaming heterosexual and ambidextrous equals bisexual? That might explain why a person can eat or hit a ball with either hand just as a person might choose homo or hetero, depending on the social or environmental situation. I realize this is not scientific thinking, it's just my gut observation and feeling. Has human sexuality ever been compared to the diversity that describes handedness. Left-handed, right-handed, ambidextrous. As Kinsey describes 7 levels of sexuality (flaming homosexual to flaming heterosexual with several gradations in between.) Could the similarity be as simple as left handed equals flaming homosexual, right handed equals flaming heterosexual and ambidextrous equals bisexual? That might explain why a person can eat or hit a ball with either hand just as a person might choose homo or hetero, depending on the social or environmental situation. I realize this is not scientific thinking, it's just my gut observation and feeling.

]]> By: Barry Starr http://science.kqed.org/quest/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/#comment-10984 Barry Starr Tue, 13 Nov 2007 04:09:15 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/#comment-10984 Yes there are and they give similar results. The studies are a little harder to interpret (at least the ones I have read are) because female sexuality is a bit different than male sexuality. Human sexuality is really a continuum ranging from completely heterosexual to completely homosexual. Men's sexuality tends to be more bimodal--they tend to be either straight or gay. (Of course this is just a tendency--there are plenty of exceptions.) Women tend to span the continuum more so it gets harder to define gay and straight...the study results depend on where you draw the line. Yes there are and they give similar results. The studies are a little harder to interpret (at least the ones I have read are) because female sexuality is a bit different than male sexuality.

Human sexuality is really a continuum ranging from completely heterosexual to completely homosexual. Men's sexuality tends to be more bimodal–they tend to be either straight or gay. (Of course this is just a tendency–there are plenty of exceptions.) Women tend to span the continuum more so it gets harder to define gay and straight…the study results depend on where you draw the line.

]]> By: Craig Rosa http://science.kqed.org/quest/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/#comment-10983 Craig Rosa Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:09:01 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/11/12/gay-genes-part-deux/#comment-10983 Are there similar studies looking at twin daughters? Are there similar studies looking at twin daughters?

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