Largest Ever Gay Gene Study

International News, By danny corvini, 19th October, 2007

A new federally-funded study by the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute in Chicago might find evidence that there are genetic markers in gay people. The lead researcher, Dr. Alan Sanders, said that “We are trying to pry some of nature’s secrets loose.”

The study will expand on a similar study in 1993 that located shared genetic markers which gay brothers inherited from their mother found in the X chromosome. Another study which was conducted showed identical twins more likely to be both gay than non-identical twins.

Scientists will use the saliva and blood of 1000 pairs of brothers – gay and straight – to find out if there are genetic clues to homosexuality in the largest study of its kind so far.

Dr. Sanders believes that it is likely that sexual orientation is resulting from several genes (as opposed to one ‘gay gene’) interacting with non-genetic factors such as psychological and social influences. It has also been previously shown in previous studies that sexual orientation can cluster in families, as well as being affected by religion and other beliefs and child-rearing practices.

If there is one gene that makes a bigger contribution to homosexuality, then the study has a good chance of finding it, believes Dr. Sanders.

“If we confirm that sexual orientation is an immutable characteristic, we are much more likely to get the courts to rule against discrimination,” said Joel Ginsberg of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.

But Ginsberg also admits that many GLBTI people are afraid that if gay genes are identified, then it could actually result in more discrimination rather than less – in the form of prenatal testing, or even abortions to stop homosexual children being born in the first place.

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