‘Gay Gene’? Nope!
Sep 6, 2019
Since the 1980s, pro-LGBT researchers have been promoting the myth that there was a “gay gene” that determines a person’s sexual orientation. Now, with results from a new genome-wide association study of more than 477,000 individuals from the United States and the United Kingdom published recently in Science magazine, the idea that same-sex attraction is linked to one single “born this way” gene has been laid to rest.
Deviant sexuality can’t be pinned on biology alone. Conservatives have known this for a long time, but advocates for normalizing homosexuality hoped for a biologically determinative “cause” for their attractions and behaviors, as it would have eliminated any argument about sexual norms and right and wrong behavior.
In culling through data for almost a half a million people, the researchers discovered that genetic factors only account for eight to 25 percent of same-sex behavior. Brendan Zietsch, senior author of the study and a genetic researcher at the University of Queensland, says that sexual orientation “is influenced by genes but not determined by genes. Non-genetic influences are also important, but we know little about these and our study does not shed light on them.”
In the end, no one can predict who will be straight and who will be homosexual just by looking at someone’s genes.
No ‘gay gene’ can predict sexual orientation, study says
CNN
BreakPoint: The Search for the “Gay Gene”: A New Study, Predictable Reactions
Breakpoint
‘Gay gene’ theories belong in the past – now we know sexuality is far more fluid
Guardian
Large-scale GWAS reveals insights into the genetic architecture of same-sex sexual behavior
Science Magazine
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
Deviant sexuality can’t be pinned on biology alone. Conservatives have known this for a long time, but advocates for normalizing homosexuality hoped for a biologically determinative “cause” for their attractions and behaviors, as it would have eliminated any argument about sexual norms and right and wrong behavior.
In culling through data for almost a half a million people, the researchers discovered that genetic factors only account for eight to 25 percent of same-sex behavior. Brendan Zietsch, senior author of the study and a genetic researcher at the University of Queensland, says that sexual orientation “is influenced by genes but not determined by genes. Non-genetic influences are also important, but we know little about these and our study does not shed light on them.”
In the end, no one can predict who will be straight and who will be homosexual just by looking at someone’s genes.
News Sources
No ‘gay gene’ can predict sexual orientation, study saysCNN
BreakPoint: The Search for the “Gay Gene”: A New Study, Predictable Reactions
Breakpoint
‘Gay gene’ theories belong in the past – now we know sexuality is far more fluid
Guardian
Large-scale GWAS reveals insights into the genetic architecture of same-sex sexual behavior
Science Magazine
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
