by Drew Kyla Baysa (Polyplex)
Each gene carries a piece of specific information that carries an individual’s
traits. With an estimation of 20,000-25,000 genes in the human body, we would
be clueless as to what gene carries a specific trait. Careful experimental
design and appropriate genetic models are critical requirements for genetic
analysis of behavioral differences among humans. The teasing part of genetic
and environmental influences as factors for determining behavior became an
ideal part of genetic analysis. When things are taken independently, genetics
alone partly has something to do with same-sex behavior according to twin and
family studies in the past.
With the help of close consultations with advocacy and outreach groups, and with the brilliance of science, an international group of researchers was
able to provide better evidence that pins same-sex sexual behavior. A large
scale GWAS (genome-wide association study) revealed five genomic variants that
are associated with same-sex behavior while also establishing that there is no
marker that would show how a person will behave sexually. From a 1993 study
linking homosexuality to a specific region of the X chromosome, the study
“Large-scale GWAS reveals insights into the genetic architecture of same-sex
sexual behavior” sets the idea of Dean Harmer’s popular idea of “gay gene”.
Data were gathered from a total of 492,678 genotyped individuals who
provided self reported-information about having to have sex with a same-sex
partner from interviews and surveys including questions about sexual identity,
sexual experience, sexual attraction, etc. The primary phenotype examined
was whether a person had sex with someone of the same sex and from then, the
team analyzed other phenotypes including the proportion of same-sex and
opposite-sex partners which is significant for it shows support for the
evidence that there is no single specific single gay gene but a lot of genomic
variants with individually small effects contributing to individual differences
in the tendency of same-sex sexual behavior.
The team notes that the five genetic variants together account for less
than one percent of the variation. And only 8-25% of variation in same-sex
behavior was the scope of all genetic variants tested. These numbers are describing the population itself and not individuals, showing the variability
in the population that we see in genetics and connecting it to the variability
we see in same-sex sexual behavior.
A genetic basis proves that gender is not a choice. However, this study
is not credible enough to prove otherwise. Despite the limitations of the study
such as lack of diversity and difference in culture, it did not disappoint the
fact that science can help us learn more about ourselves, and to answer more
questions about our behavior, which is the primary focus of the paper, and not about
identity or orientation.
0 Comments