Researchers at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute in Illinois are the latest to try to find a genetic link to the origins of homosexuality. The debate over nature-versus-nurture has raged on for decades but recent developments in genetic research tend to suggest that sexuality is determined before birth. At Evanston, scientists are focusing on gay brothers. The Molecular Genetic Study of Sexual Orientation is hoping to find 1,000 pairs of gay brothers to donate blood samples for DNA analysis. Researchers point to other studies of gay twins that suggest there may be a link between sexuality and genes. Some research also indicates that homosexuality may run in some families. In 2005 a University of Illinois at Chicago researcher announced he had identified several areas that appear to influence whether a man is straight or gay. UIC's Brian Mustanski, working with colleagues at the National Institutes of Health, found stretches of DNA that appeared to be linked to sexual orientation on three different chromosomes in the nucleus of cells of the human male. "There is no one 'gay' gene," said Mustanski at the time. "Sexual orientation is a complex trait, so it's not surprising that we found several DNA regions involved in its expression. "Our best guess is that multiple genes, potentially interacting with environmental influences, explain differences in sexual orientation." The LGBT community is divided on genetic research into sexuality. Some believe a firm link between sexuality and genetics would wipe out the arguments by many conservatives that homosexuality is a matter of choice. Others believe the effect could be profoundly damaging. If, they argue, you can alter sex, eye or hair color in the womb why couldn't you eradicate homosexuality. Ref: 365Gay.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 27th September 2006 - 12:00pm