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From: daver@ECE.ORST.EDU (Dave Rabinowitz)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: The persistance of homosexuality in a gene pool
Keywords: mutation
Message-ID: <19615@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU>
Date: 1 Aug 90 01:36:56 GMT
References: <5914@videovax.tv.tek.com> <1990Jul23.022511.28161@mtcchi.uucp> <8800@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu>
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Organization: Oregon State University -- Electrical & Computer Engineering
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I'm not an expert in this area, but there is reason to believe that
homosexuality is not genetic in nature.  Research has shown that there are
substantial differences in the way male and female brains operate, and some
homosexuals have brains which operate the way one would expect a brain of the
opposite sex to behave (there are measurable chemical differences).  This is
likely due to misfunctioning of the genes which control brain development but
needn't be because of improper genes.  Scientists have recently reported
discovering a key gene on the Y chromosome which appears to control the sexual
development of the fetus, and the articles indicated that there were apparently
very few other genes, if any, involved in this control.  It is postulated that
the expression of genes determining sexual characteristics is controlled by 
proteins transcribed from these control genes, and the activity of these 
proteins can be affected by other chemicals present in the fetus.  Thus,
alcohol inhibits proper development of brain function at a certain time in 
fetal development, leading to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and thalidomide
interfered with other development functions, leading to the well known birth 
defects.  It is possible that some chemical in the placental environment 
interferes with the proper control of sexual development genes and is 
responsible for the development of homosexuality.  This would explain its
survival in face of evolution and also explain the results of experiments
based on twins, both of whom developed in the same placental environment.
Some day in the future pregnant women may be warned not to eat or drink a 
certain substance to make sure their children end up "straight".  This might
be a fertile area for research.