MetaFilter posts tagged with homosexuality and genetics

Kinseyian mathematics, of a kind

Blazecock Pileon — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:36:37 -0800

The "Darwinian paradox" of homosexuality presents the conundrum of how a potential genetic basis for homosexual behavior could provide a survival benefit to offpsring and extend through generations, when sexual reproduction would seem to place strong selection pressure against such a "gene". Recently developed mathematical models (PDF) from researchers Sergey Gavrilets and William Rice not only show how a "gay gene" might proliferate within a population, but also provides testable hypotheses, including predictions of "widespread bisexuality" (subscription req'd).

Ah, science.

joe_murphy — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 07:46:33 -0800

New research takes steps towards finding the "gay genes." A study conducted on gay brothers in more than 100 families found several genetic regions of similarity with linkage to sexual orientation. This is kind of dense (scroll to the bottom of the page for the FAQ), but that's because it hasn't been written up in the press so there are only journal doc's and scientific summaries available.
This is the press release, which is clearer (Microsoft Word).
This is the article on the study, as published in the journal Human Genetics (PDF).

The Dawkins FAQ.

skallas — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 12:01:15 -0800

The Dawkins FAQ. Interesting Q&A session about evolution, biology, genes, etc with an expert. Dawkins claims no final answer on the "gay gene" or a Darwinian explanation of homosexuality.

You get the gay from your mother

NortonDC — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 17:52:26 -0800

You get the gay from your mother.
It turns out that there may not be "gay" genes, just "attracted to men" genes.

Challenging Darwin: Is sex really all about the genes?

dnash — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 07:49:23 -0800

Author challenges Darwin's theory of "sexual selection." To Darwin, mutations that don't enhance survival, like peacocks' tails, must be aids to attracting mates to pass on genes. Homosexuality, therefore, is to Darwin and the Christian-right both an unnatural aberration. But with ever growing evidence of homsexual behavior in animals, from bonobos to penguins, isn't it time that Darwin's theory get replaced?