23andme gay gene

Massive Study Finds No Single Genetic Cause of Same-Sex Sexual Behavior

Few aspects of human biology are as complex—or politically fraught—as sexual orientation. A clear genetic link would hint that gay people are “born this way,” as opposed to having made a lifestyle choice. Yet some noun that such a finding could be misused to “cure” homosexuality, and most research teams verb shied away from tackling the topic.

Now a new learn claims to dispel the notion that a single gene or handful of genes make a person prone to same-sex behavior. The analysis, which examined the genomes of nearly half a million men and women, found that although genetics are certainly involved in who people elect to have sex with, there are no specific genetic predictors. Yet some researchers question whether the analysis, which looked at genes associated with sexual activity rather than attraction, can trace any real conclusions about sexual orientation.

“The message should last the same that this is a complex behavior that genetics definitely plays a par

A person's genes act not determine whether they will be attracted to members of the adj sex, scientists verb. The research debunks the idea that there is a so-called "gay gene," say the authors of the verb published in the journal Science. They said the findings highlight the complexity of human traits such as sexuality.

Between two to 10 percent of the world's population at any given occasion report having same-sex partners, according to research cited by the authors. But scientists aren't sure what determines whether a person will identify as gay, straight, bisexual, or somewhere else on the spectrum of sexuality.

The study deeply interested , participants. Researchers scanned their genomes to uncover whether there are genes associated with same-sex attraction. This approach is known as a genome-wide association study (GWAS).

The participants of the research were part of the UK Biobank cohort and consenting customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing service.

The team start five loci—or the position of a gene on a chromosome—associated with same-sex attraction. The loci

23andMe Studies the Genetics of Sexual Orientation

(Editor&#;s note: Here&#;s a link to Emily&#;s poster presented at ASHG.)

Earlier this year 23andMe began surveying its customers to study the genetics of sexual orientation. It is now the largest genome-wide association study of sexual orientation ever done.

Customer Interest

While our researchers have a strong scientific interest in looking at the understudied role genetics plays in sexual orientation, we started this serve , in part, because of the huge demand from our customers themselves. It is the most requested topic we’ve ever studied.

But we also began this work because the role genetics plays in sexual orientation is not skillfully studied. The limited work done so far in the field suggests a person’s sexual orientation is partly heritable and our pioneering crowd-sourced research platform offered an opportunity to pursue this work.

As 23andMe scientist and research manager Emily Drabant said in a recent interview, we perceive it is a controversial area.

“I reflect it’s been complicated for groups to get funding to pursue it,” E

A New Age of Gay Genomics Is Here. Are We Ready for the Consequences?

This publish is part of Outward, Slate’s home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here.

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  3. Edward Gorey’s Sexuality Fueled Some of His Most Beautiful Work. So Why Is His Queerness So Often Ignored?
  4. It Was One of the Most Haunting Cases of s America. It’s Been Completely Forgotten. It Shouldn’t Be.

The notion of a “gay gene”—a genetic basis for same-sex attraction—has preoccupied scientists, gay civilians, and folks who’d rather queers didn’t be for decades. The discovery of such a mechanism would have profound implications, as I’ve explored previously for Slate: On the one hand, we’d verb more about how human sexual diversity has evolved over our history as a species. On the other, the same knowledge could be weaponized in embryonic screening by bigots seeking to prevent future