Question

How is the sexuality determined with genes? I mean, if you are straight, ou homo or bissexual... Is there any determination?

Answer 1

There are some gender specific genes which encode for differences in a female or male brain. But I've never heard of anything like a "sexuality gene".. this is most likely to be a complex process which is based on hormones, social influences etc. Genes might have an influence, but not a determinating one.

Answer 2

The scientific studies on human sexuality and sexuality throughout nature are fascinating and numerous.

Many people talk about the "gay gene" in every day conversation. However, how genes are expressed is no so simple as that. Phenotypes, or the expression of our genes, are usually not so simple as "You have the attractive gene, so you will be attractive." Often there are lots of genes involved in such expression, so we can probably safely assume that, if sexuality is specifically coded for in the genome, it will be an expression of a very complex gene interactions.

There have not been very many studies into this "gay gene," however, there are some well known scientists involved in this pursuit.

http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v11/n3/abs/ng1195-248.html

There have been some fingers pointed at certain genes, but there is always some discrepancy. This will probably always be the case because so few things about our phenotypes are only because of our genes, but instead are often how those genes interact with other genes and even their environment.

Science has fairly certainly pointed out that choice has little to do with human sexuality; instead, as matthias said, it is likely the interplay of genes, hormones, and social construct.

I could talk all day about studies into human sexuality and organismal sexuality, so if I keep on talking I'll probably get tangential. However, I do want to point you toward some of my favorite and, in my opinion, very telling studies, of prenatal environment/genome interaction studies.

Answer 3

Thanks! xD Yes, it´s really fascinating all of these things. But if there IS really something how can people become or stop being homossexual , bissexual or straight?

Answer 4

Simply because people are predisposed to be something by their genes/hormones/upbringing does not mean those things will be expressed.

For example, we know that there are genes that predispose people to alcoholism/drug dependency; however, those people are able to overcome those aspects of themselves because they are able to recognize the negative effects. Similarly, genetics and hormone balance of many people, more often in men, will predispose those people to bouts of anger and violence. While emotions are difficult to control, many of these people can seek out anger management to help them overcome their base reactions.

On that note, while someone may be predisposed to a certain sexuality, that does not mean that person will act on that sexuality. However, instead of trying to avoid the negative effects of themselves like the things I mentioned above, they are trying to change this aspect of themselves because of how society shames them. Largely, the world still treats homosexuality as something that is not acceptable. Either they do not care about the scientific studies into sexuality, or they do not know. Imagine knowing that you are attracted to people of the same sex your entire life, but also hearing your entire life that people who are like you are somehow worse than everyone else. They don't deserve the same rights, they should not be allowed to display affection in pubic, they are more likely to be pedophiles (which is also not true and is a misunderstanding of a scientific study), and they will burn in hell for all eternity. Being bombarded will all this hateful speech, it is not surprising that many people try to change themselves and their sexuality.

All that being said, I'd like to mention that scientific studies have also shown that you are not actually changing your sexuality, but rather hiding your actual selves; in that same light, alcoholics will always be alcoholics, even if they are sober for years...which is why it is so easy for alcoholics to slip back into their old ways. You have probably heard of the ex-gay movement or pray-the-gay-away churches. Psychologists, at least the ones not deluded by personal beliefs, denounce these movements as abusive and terrible places. Not only are they psychologically damaging, but they are usually ineffective. Most ex-gay camps will usually claim that they have 100% success rates, which is ridiculous. Studies not done by affiliated churches or groups usually come up with actual success rates of less and 1%. This is often not surprising, since if you look up any ex-gay group, you will usually find that some of its leaders have had "slip-ups" or have renounced the group.

As for changing bisexuality, that is a bit more complicated. There have been very few studies into this because of the complexity of their attraction. While strait, gay and lesbian people are attracted to one sex, bisexuals are attracted to people regardless of their sex. Knowing that, how can one say for sure that someone has stopped being bisexual, when maybe they have simply found they prefer one sex or maybe they just met a series of people they are attracted to that all just happen to be of one sex. In fact, in polls, the majority of bisexuals get upset when people assume they stop being bisexual when they are in long terms relationships with someone. People might assume just because they in in those relationships that they are either gay or straight, but instead, they are bisexuals who happen to really like this particular person, and that person happens to have a sex.

Also there are few studies into straight people becoming gay. Mostly because this VERY rarely happens. WHile gay people are shamed into hiding their sexuality, straight peple would have to be willing to give up many of their rights to be homosexuals. I have heard of cases of sexual abuse or emotional abuse where people might change their sexuality because of the damage of that past relationship. However, I don't know of any studies into if they actually stick with this new sexuality, and I would be very interested in the results! Funny story that is not scientific...a male friend of mine had a very effeminate voice but is straight. He had such problems getting dates with girls because they assumed he was gay that he actually decided to go out on a date with a guy. He got as far into that date as the awkward kiss, and told me he would never try that again.

Anyway, that was a lot to say, and I know that there could be more said, but I am again worried about going off on tangents and confusing my info. Hope all that answered the question!

Answer 5

Thanks a lot! xD