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From: ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac)
Newsgroups: net.motss,net.sci
Subject: Re: Data: Homosexuality may not be learned (or inherited, or...)
Message-ID: <87@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 13-May-85 14:54:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.87
Posted: Mon May 13 14:54:24 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 15-May-85 01:38:47 EDT
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Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
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> > 
> > Why is it so obvious that homosexuality isn't inherited?  It could be
> > inherited as a recessive trait or a predisposition, or some combination,
> > or am I wrong?
> 
> You are right that some homosexuals do have children, and that if
> it were inheritable homosexuality could be a recessive trait.  But
> that would mean that the children of homosexuals would have a
> higher incidence of homosexuality that the population at large.
> (I have no data there).  If there were a gene responsible, it
> would be eventually driven out because of the relatively few number of
> homosexuals who reproduce.

All that this requires is that the gene for homosexuality (if such a thing
were to exist) would be spontaneously created through mutation at a sufficient
level to produce a stable fraction of the population who were homosexual.
Alternatively, it might be that having some fraction of homosexuals in the
tribe confers a benefit on the tribe.  Then tribes with a recessive gene for
homosexuality could successfully compete with tribes with purely heterosexual
populations.  

The above is not intended as judgement on the plausibility of genes that fix
one's sexual orientation.

"Don't argue with a fool.      Ethan Vishniac
 Borrow his money."            {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
                               Department of Astronomy
                               University of Texas