Homosexual Biology

[Rahul]

I've been led to believe that most sexual orientation is a result of the hormones that are delivered to a fetus during pregnancy. This will determine whether a human is born hetero, homo, or transgender.

I've haven't really researched that or anything. It's just been a bunch of different things I've read over the years that has given me that belief. So not really genetic in origin.

[Ravenshire]

I don't think it is that hard to have sex with someone you're not attracted to if you feel a strong sense of duty

Speaking from experience... you don't even need a strong sense of duty. Just a lot of alcohol. Or a blindfold.

Or, just a libido and an imagination. I'm fairly certain most guys aren't actually sexually attracted to their hands...

[Regina]

@Rahul - That's probably what I'd put it down to, fetal development.

It could be genetic, but I think if it was wholly genetic you might have some areas of the world where it's significantly more common than others (like the blue eye gene, more common than brown among Northern Europeans but virtually non-existent in some other groups). Instead, it's relatively similar among all populations.

The only thing we can say with some certainty is that it is inborn. Studies are increasingly showing very little (if any) ability for one to willingly change sexuality.

[Aractus]

First of all this is not a question to stir the pot of weather homosexuality is a trait you are born with or not.  It is also not a question of whether it is right or wrong.  My question has come about from reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (best book I have read so far).  He talks about evolution and makes a very strong case for things evolving along a slow and steady slope up a mountain.

1. I believe that homosexual people are born homosexual
2. Most homosexuals (I assume) are born to heterosexuals 
3. I understand how recessive genes can becoming dominant in a baby

My question is
1. Is homosexuality a recessive gene?
2. If it is, will homosexuals eventually become extinct because of their lack of ability to reproduce, thus eventually losing the recessive gene?

If I am way off please tell me.  I am a nube to this whole evolution thing.  No offense will be taken

If it's genetic, yes, but it's not purely genetic. There are identical twins where one twin is heterosexual and the other is homosexual. It's a bit like handedness - it may be hard-wired but it isn't necessarily genetic in origin.

[Ravenshire]

2. If it is, will homosexuals eventually become extinct because of their lack of ability to reproduce, thus eventually losing the recessive gene?

I have to address this. Even if you could isolate it to a single "Gay Gene," it's not necessarily going to be bred out of the population because homosexuals are perfectly capable of reproducing. In today's world, they don't even have to have sex thanks to artificial insemination. But, even without that they can still bang it out the old fashioned way in order to have a kid. They're gay, not sterile.

[vorlon13]

Speaking from experience... you don't even need a strong sense of duty. Just a lot of alcohol. Or a blindfold.

Or, just a libido and an imagination. I'm fairly certain most guys aren't actually sexually attracted to their hands...

I might be attracted to yours.

Care to post a pic ?

[vorlon13]

Damn, I sound like a lech . .