Should have listened to Tom Hagen the Don's consigliere!

[uPedants' corner.[/u
1. Homosexual genes is a bit of a puzzler, how do they get passed on to another generation?
2. Being as how he's the Pontiff, isn't it now Francis's job to pontificate?

Don't mind me, I'll go away soon.

So, are you confirming that in your opinion that people are not "born" homosexual? Or at least they are destined to be single-generational (within their family's context) abberations? If people are neither born nor choose to be homosexual how does homosexuality come about? Serious question.

No, he's not.

And there are possible (as in discussed by the scientific community) reasons for the development of sexuality that don't involve genes or choice.

Quote ="Dally"So, are you confirming that in your opinion that people are not "born" homosexual? Or at least they are destined to be single-generational (within their family's context) abberations? If people are neither born nor choose to be homosexual how does homosexuality come about? Serious question.'" I don't think he was, but he can speak for himself. However as the world's leading scientific brains haven't found the answer to that yet, I am thinking your question that El Barbudo should explain it is a tad demanding. It might be more fruitful for you to google 'epigenetics'. A whole libraryful of work has been done on the subject across the globe, and here's just one interesting study: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3030621/

Quote ="Dally"So, are you confirming that in your opinion that people are not "born" homosexual? Or at least they are destined to be single-generational (within their family's context) abberations? If people are neither born nor choose to be homosexual how does homosexuality come about? Serious question.'" I don't think he was, but he can speak for himself. However as the world's leading scientific brains haven't found the answer to that yet, I am thinking your question that El Barbudo should explain it is a tad demanding. It might be more fruitful for you to google 'epigenetics'. A whole libraryful of work has been done on the subject across the globe, and here's just one interesting study: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3030621/

No, of course I am not confirming that, I was simply (light-heartedly) puzzling over how such a gene could be passed on.
Whether someone is born homosexual is neither proof nor refutation of whether a genetic predisposition to homosexuality exists.

However (and I'm guessing here), I'd reckon that a recessive gene could maybe do it, only showing up a characteristic in an individual where two genes have a matching allele.
That's how certain genetic characteristics can skip a generation or several before showing up again.


You seem to under the illusion that characteristics determined by genes will show up in every generation.
This is not the case.

If it is ever proven that there is a "homosexual gene", I get the feeling that you'll be recommending gene therapy for gays rather than accepting that is natural.

Could there perhaps be a multiplicity of "causes"?

How do you explain the significant % of gay men that have very feminine traits - high voices, very slim bodies effeminate mannerisms is that all learned/copied?

.....I know, its like when these 'celebs' like Will Young, Nick Grimshaw, that chap from Steps and there have been many more, decide to 'come out' and the general reaction of most people is '...and he hadn't come out already?' type of thing.

I can't believe these feminine traits are learned or copied - I recall going to school with a lad who was extremely camp, even at junior school age, and it came as no shock years later when he 'revealed' he was gay....Most of us used to tell him that at school in a typical kids-at-school sort of way....

Probably the same way that some women are quite 'masculine'.

You still don't seem to have grasped the differences between gender, sex and sexuality yet

Nor do you

So, getting back to the topic, is the Pope gay?

I'll send him an email.

Homosexuality and its predisposed triggers - yet another area in which you think you are an expert?

Is there no end to the subjects in which you have superior knowledge?

Thankfully most on here can see - 'emperors new clothes'/empty jacket!!

You're sooo 20th century. You should tweet him.

Well, of course there "could" but that's not the same as "we know there are".
For the good of this thread, if you want to discuss homosexuality (and you certainly manage to do so in a thread of almost any topic), why not start another thread?

A he-male?

TBF it was you, not him, who was stating as a fact that it is all down to "homosexual genes":


When challenged about this, you replied indicating that you were reinforced in your opinion that there are "homosexual genes" because you said:

In other words you were clearly expressing the view that these traits are NOT learned/copied but are down to "homosexual genes".

I don't think it is definite that there isn't, and indeed it makes reasonable sense to theorize that there may be some connection with a genetic component, but your statement that "homosexual genes" exist is not an established scientific fact.

I don't and can't explain that.
I can postulate possibilities (from a postion of lack of knowledge) with the best of 'em but I am not in a position to explain.

How do you explain the %age of heterosexual men who display similar characteristics?

I find it quite disgusting that seemingly intelligent people can't accept that some people are homosexual and some aren't, it isn't an illness or a condition.

Who are these seemingly intelligent people?

Or, as I suggested, women who display 'masculine' characteristics – or interests, for that matter.

I'm old fashioned

.

Looking at it from a purely scientific point of view IF a "gay" gene does exist (yet to be proven) chances are that it would be recessive as it would not be conducive to the success of the species. One could argue that the estimated 10% occurrence of homosexuality in the population is somewhat higher than would be expected if this was the case and hence nurture could be an influence, however it might be that the "gay" gene is associated with another effect that is beneficial in some way e.g. in the way that the gene for sickle cell anaemia is associated with improved resistance to malaria.

As for high pitched voice, masculine looks etc., these are sexual characteristics that are controlled by hormones and response to hormones is controlled by your genes. Sometimes lack of the appropriate receptors to these hormones due to a genetic quirk can lead to a male foetus developing into a baby that appears to have the physical characteristics of the opposite sex and lead to them being raised as girls. It is not inconceivable that if a "gay" gene does exist that it may be linked to a gene that controls response or production of sex hormones.

All the above is hypothetical.

It should be noted that homosexuality occurs in a wide number of species at varying levels of occurence and what part nurture or genetics takes place in these instances is unknown.