“I could make a list of a thousand diseases and traits that I would want to spend my time understanding first, because I know that this might be able to help someone,” says one geneticist. “But [same-sex sexual behavior] isn’t a disease.' (commonhealth)
on the organization's website at the same time that the findings were released, geneticist Steven Reilly questioned whether the study should have been published.
All of the participants in the study were asked a few questions about their sexual history — including whether they had ever had a sexual experience with someone of the same sex, and what proportion of their sexual partners had been of the same sex. The researchers then used these responses to look for variations in the genome that might be associated with same-sex sexual behavior.
That means that while these genes are statistically associated with same-sex sexual behavior, they do not predict that someone has, or will have, a same-sex sexual partner, he says. “You can have people who just misconstrue this,” says Reilly, at the Broad Institute. “And you get to extreme examples of companies trying to sell products to choose an embryo based on these genetics or offering [gene] editing for fetuses. It’s not scientifically feasible, but it doesn’t mean someone might not try. There’s already examples of companies that test for IQ or eye color.”
The authors of the study say they understand these criticisms, but they believe their work can benefit the LGBTQ community.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Study Finds There Is No 'Gay Gene,' But Genetics Do Play a Part in Sexuality
Read more »
No 'gay gene', but study finds genetic links to sexual behaviorA large scientific study into the biological basis of sexual behavior has confir...
Read more »
A scientific study has established that there is no “gay gene”It was the largest study ever done into human sexuality
Read more »
Workplace Study Finds Men Have Responded to MeToo by Becoming Even Shittier
Read more »
Study: Bilingualism Linked to Few Cognitive Advantages Among Children with Attention ProblemsResearch shows that speaking a second language correlates to greater executive functioning and visual processing in neurotypical patients. In children with attention problems, the benefits of bilin…
Read more »
Breast cancer risk linked to hormone therapy can persist for years, study saysAll types of hormone replacement therapy, except for vaginal estrogens, may be associated with excess breast cancer risks and in some cases that risk can persist for more than a decade, new research suggests. But experts urge caution.
Read more »