I actually just read an enlightening article on the idea of homosexuality, written by an informed biologist.
Some years ago, a study came out claiming to have found a specific gene (or gene pattern) for homosexuality. To date, the study hasn't been debunked (nor confirmed by further studies, to be fair). It's reasonable to assume that genetic factors can contribute to homosexuality.
However, we aren't our genes. Genetic tendency is one factor among many. Because of our advanced consciousness/awareness, we constantly perform tasks and have characteristics that not only have nothing to do with our genes, but are often in defiance of our genetic programming. One obvious example is the use of contraception, which has no genetic value at all, and actually damages genes' chances of being successful at procreating.
What we can learn is that there probably are, in fact, genetic factors in homosexuality, but these manifest themselves statistically. They increase a person's chances of being homosexual, but they don't make it a certainty.
It's still, ultimately, chosen by the individual based on a number of factors. Genes might be one of them, possibly even the biggest factor, but they certainly aren't the only one.
....
...if needed, I can site the study I mentioned, as well as particulars of the article.
Originally posted by apoc001
If homosexuality is genetic, how is it passed on?
The same way anything is passed on genetically. The hybrid of genetic information from mother/father during copulation. People sometimes assume that genes only encode information for strictly physical features like skin, eye color, etc. But it can be personality traits and tendencies as well.
Originally posted by dadudemon
errrr....men are not the only gender in the species to be homosexual...I am sure you know that already.
But gay men are the ones most homophobes tend to have a problem with.
"Let's be honest, when homophobes talk about it being 'disgusting' or 'an abomination'...they're not talking about the women."
-Bill Maher during one of his "New Rules" skits
Originally posted by Quiero Mota
But gay men are the ones most homophobes tend to have a problem with."Let's be honest, when homophobes talk about it being 'disgusting' or 'an abomination'...they're not talking about the women."
-Bill Maher during one of his "New Rules" skits
😆
Quoting you for quoting for truth.
"Study: Gene Makes Fruit Flies Bisexual" Jim Ritter for Chicago Sun-TimesA new study is providing insights into the genetics of homosexuality—at least in fruit flies.
Researchers have discovered a gene involved in homosexual behavior in the tiny flies. They also found a way to turn homosexuality on and off with drugs.
Humans have a similar gene. But it's unclear what effect, if any, the gene has on homosexual behavior in people, said biologist David Featherstone of the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Featherstone and colleagues described their findings in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
After a century of study on fruit flies, researchers have accumulated a vast storehouse of genetic knowledge. UIC researchers were using fruit flies to study muscular dystrophy when they discovered a gene they call "gender blind," or "GB."
Flies with a mutated form of the GB gene are bisexual. It appears they're unable to distinguish chemical smells, called pheromones, that tell whether other flies are male or female.
"The GB mutant males treated other males exactly the same way normal male flies would treat a female," Featherstone said. "They even attempted copulation."
The GB mutation appears to strengthen nerve cell junctions called synapses. This causes flies to over-react to pheromones. As a result, they "broaden their horizons and go for both males and females," Featherstone said.
Researchers tested this idea by adding a drug to the flies' apple juice. The drug weakened the synapses. So within a few hours, flies with the GB mutation stopped engaging in homosexual behavior.
Conversely, researchers gave heterosexual male flies a drug that strengthened their synapses. Sure enough, these male flies soon were courting males as well as females.
"It was amazing," Featherstone said. "I never thought we'd be able to do that sort of thing, because sexual orientation is supposed to be hard-wired. This fundamentally changes how we think about this behavior."
Originally posted by Captain King
Well, if you admit it's chosen, then all homosexuality is just a farce and nobody has to accept or tolerate it if they don't want too.
Actually, they still have to accept and tolerate it. Just the way they have to tolerate that I choose to drive a Ford instead of a Toyota.
Originally posted by Captain King
If you admit it's a natural thing, then homosexuality is a genetic malfunction. Like retardation or autism.
Or a genetic difference, like different color hair or eyes. Or gender.
Originally posted by Captain King
I'm going to go with genetic, it seems more lulzy.
Good reason to choose things by.
Originally posted by Bardock42
Or a genetic difference, like different color hair or eyes. Or gender.
Wrong. If the genetic difference impairs the furthering of the species, it is a negative mutation, or literally a sexual retardation. Abnormalities are abnormalities...some are positive and some are negative and some are both at the same time.
Originally posted by dadudemon
Wrong. If the genetic difference impairs the furthering of the species, it is a negative mutation, or literally a sexual retardation. Abnormalities are abnormalities...some are positive and some are negative and some are both at the same time.
How is it automatically a negative mutation ? Homosexuality helps limit the population- most homosexual men and women don't have thier own kids. Same with animals.
Limitting the population is one way to further the species.
Originally posted by dadudemon
Wrong. If the genetic difference impairs the furthering of the species, it is a negative mutation, or literally a sexual retardation. Abnormalities are abnormalities...some are positive and some are negative and some are both at the same time.
That's asinine.
You and SOD are assigning human emotions to the process of evolution, on top of making the mistake that homosexuality is the result of genetic evolution. Being homosexual doesn't retard or inhibit the ability to reproduce, or the desire to reproduce. Neither is homosexuality an "abnormality". If a person is homosexual, their sperm doesn't wither because of it. Homosexuality is neither a positive nor a negative reality. It's effect on a human's life is the result of the human construct of society, not reproductive ability.
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
How is it automatically a negative mutation ? Homosexuality helps limit the population- most homosexual men and women don't have thier own kids. Same with animals.Limitting the population is one way to further the species.
That may be necessary now...but not back in the day when man first came around...we were very few and far between...homosexuality would have been detrimental to the success of humanity.
The same goes for most species...IF homosexuality is "a genetic thing" then it is a sexual retardation...you can look at it negative if you want...but that's the way it is.
I don't see it as being negative or positive...I see it as just being a state or fact. If a genetic difference causes some organisms of a species to not be able to reproduce, it s a sexual retardation...no if ands buts or buts about it...
genetic mutation-any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism.
If the species reproduces sexually, and one of the offspring is homosexual because of something in the genetics....it could be a mutation....not always...but it could be....the "triviality" of the word mutation wasn't really my point, though. My point was agreeing that it can be considered a retardation...more specifically, a sexual retardation.
Originally posted by Devil King
That's asinine.You and SOD are assigning human emotions to the process of evolution, on top of making the mistake that homosexuality is the result of genetic evolution. Being homosexual doesn't retard or inhibit the ability to reproduce, or the [b]desire
to reproduce. Neither is homosexuality an "abnormality". If a person is homosexual, their sperm doesn't wither because of it. Homosexuality is neither a positive nor a negative reality. It's effect on a human's life is the result of the human construct of society, not reproductive ability. [/B]
Okay...so how does any of that address the reality that this is all based on the supposition that homosexuality is a genetic function? This is the basis of the entire argument and so far, has not been proven for humanity. Also, you are not arguing the same point. I have made it quite clear in the past that I don't subscribe to any one set of ideals on the being of homosexuality in humans.
Basically, I was letting Bardock42 know that his argument against that other person's argument was flawed.
Also, homosexuality is an abnormality in more ways than one. (Usually.) You associate the word abnormality with a negative connotation, when it fact, it shouldn't in this instance.