jam: yours was a snippet of an already foreshortened excerpt [in the Mirror] :
Mirror News, Feb. 14,2014
Some experts have dismissed the idea of a genetic component
to homosexuality because of so-called "Darwinian paradox".
This theory states that if homosexuality was genetic, the genes
responsible for homosexuality would be extinguished by
natural selection overtime as those with "gay gene" are those
least likely to reproduce.
Mirror excerpt ("Being gay IS in your genes, scientists discover after DNA study"):
Homosexuality is determined by a man's DNA - according to new findings by scientists.
Dr Michael Bailey, from Northwestern University in Chicago, who co-led the study said: "Sexual orientation has nothing to do with choice.
"Our findings suggest there may be genes at play - we found evidence for two sets that affect whether a man is gay or straight.
"But it is not completely determinative; there are certainly other environmental factors involved."
Genetic factors account for between 30% and 40% of what decides whether a man is gay or straight say the boffins.
The US researchers stress that environmental forces, such as hormones in the womb, play a more important role.
But this did not imply that upbringing or other social factors, or individual choice, had a bearing on sexual orientation.
The research involved testing the DNA in blood samples taken from more than 409 gay brothers and their heterosexual relatives.
It confirmed that a region previously linked to male sexuality on the X chromosome , known as Xq28, is more likely to be shared by gay pairs of brothers than siblings who do not have homosexuality in common.
A second genetic region, on Chromosome 8, also appeared to increase the chances of a man being gay.
Previouslysome experts have dismissed the idea of a genetic component to homosexuality because of the so-called "Darwinian paradox".
This theory states that if homosexuality was genetic, the genes responsible for homosexuality would be extinguished by natural selection over time as those with the "gay gene" are those least likely to reproduce.
Fuller text [in the Irish Examiner]: http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2014/0215/world/genes-help-determine-sexual-orientation-in-men-researchers-claim-258916.html
Genes help determine sexual orientation in men, researchers claim
By John von Radowitz
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Genes play a large part in determining the sexual orientation of men, scientists have shown.
Genetic factors account for between 30% and 40% of what decides whether a man is gay or straight, according to the largest investigation yet conducted into the subject.
The US researchers stress that environmental forces, such as hormones in the womb, play a more important role.
But this did not imply that upbringing or other social factors, or individual choice, had a bearing on sexual orientation.
"Sexual orientation has nothing to do with choice," said Dr Michael Bailey, from Northwestern University in Chicago, who co-led the study. "Our findings suggest there may be genes at play — we found evidence for two sets that affect whether a man is gay or straight. But it is not completely determinative; there are certainly other environmental factors involved."
The research involved testing the DNA in blood samples taken from more than 409 gay brothers and their heterosexual relatives. It confirmed that a region previously linked to male sexuality on the X chromosome, known as Xq28, is more likely to be shared by gay pairs of brothers than siblings who do not have homosexuality in common.
A second genetic region, on Chromosome 8, also appeared to increase the chances of a man being gay. Dr Bailey did not rule out the possibility of a genetic "gayness" test before birth, but thought it would only provide a vague indicator of a baby’s future sexual orientation.
"It would not be very accurate, as there are other factors that can influence the outcome," he said.
The issue of gay genes is almost as controversial as talk of links between inherited DNA and intelligence.
Previously some experts have dismissed the idea of a genetic component to homosexuality because of the so-called "Darwinian paradox".
This supposes that if gayness was genetic, the genes responsible for homosexuality would be extinguished by natural selection over time.
Gay men would be less likely than heterosexual men to reproduce and pass on their sexual orientation genes. The same would apply to their offspring, so that over a number of generations, the gay genes would be expected to die out altogether.
However, one study by Italian scientists has suggested that genes linked to male homosexuality may increase fertility in women, thereby helping to preserve them.
The new findings were presented at a Science of Sex and Attraction event attended by experts in Chicago.
