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From: Christian.Molick@CS.CMU.EDU
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: re: The persistance of homosexuality
Message-ID: <kagPb4G00h5K9VAUs5@cs.cmu.edu>
Date: 28 Jul 90 16:13:56 GMT
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Lines: 44


There have actually been a lot of studies done on the origin of
homosexuality. Unfortunately, most of them are tainted by the
point of view of the researchers doing the stuies. I believe, though,
that there was one very large study done of twins in the Boston
area very recently. Their data concluded that identical twins are
much more likely to share the same sexuality. I can't give any
specific references, though.

> Has anyone either conclusively shown or disconfirmed a link between
> heredity and sexual desire for members of the opposite sex, in humans?

> Any concepts or categories that we humans think is in is suspect and
should
> be regarded as a culturally-based category until shown otherwise.
> (Interacial sexuality example follows)

I think the issue is getting confused here. One good reason to believe
that
homosexuals might be genetically differentiated from heterosexuals is the
number of homosexuals who believe that being homosexual is something
unseperable from sexuality itself. Of course we shouldn't jump to
conclusions
on this point, but there is a difference between sex with the same
gender and
interracial sex. Homosexuality tends to be different because of the
anatomical
considerations involved, whereas interracial sex need not be in the least
different. Speaking in terms of which parts interact with which, that is.


> Seeing as how there would be no heredity to spead of WITHOUT the
aforementioned
> desire, I would think this rather, ahem, conclusive.

This is completely untrue. First of all, many homosexuals breed long
before they
come to realize/admit to themselves their feelings about sexuality.
Secondly,
homosexuals can still breed, they just don't get pleasure out of the act
in the
same way that heterosexuals do.

ChristainM