Mothers' genetic skew linked to gay sons

[growler_south]

10:26 09 November 04

Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition.


There has been much debate over “gay genes”. Now an intriguing study raises another possibility: in some cases, variations in the genetic program we inherit from our parents, rather than in the genes themselves, might determine sexual preference.

Our genome is “programmed” by the addition of chemical markers called methyl groups to the DNA, which shut down genes. One of the most dramatic examples of methylation is the shutdown of one of the two X chromosomes (one from each parent) in every woman’s cells, a process called X-inactivation.

Normally, this process is random; either of the X chromosomes can be inactivated.

But when Sven Bocklandt of the University of California, Los Angeles, compared blood and saliva samples from 97 mothers of gay men with samples from 103 mothers without gay children he found this process was extremely skewed in the mothers with gay sons, with one X chromosome being far more likely to be inactivated than the other.

link to New Scientist article

Comments

[beastbriskett.livejournal.com]

I guess this means that it IS my mother's fault.

Mum Says:

[(Anonymous)]

You cheeky thing, don't think you can 'blame' me for this. But hey, you are still very special and it that means its my fault that you are 'special' then I take full responsibility. I love you regardless (as I am sure Mo and Rick do ((in their own way)).

My day is going fine now that I have had a good chuckle about this.

Love, Mum.

[smellykaka.livejournal.com]

So how does genetics explain bisexuality? I assume it would have been mentioned if this study had covered that.

That may be so, but...

[subwoofr.livejournal.com]

2 sexual preferences that I definitely DID NOT inherit from my mom:
-- lanky, hairless men
-- battery operated toys

[sbduk.livejournal.com]

Hmm, not so sure about this. Can't speak from G's experience but is it not more complex? E.g. I have never slept or even kissed a blonde lass, they just don't do it for me. Neither for that matter do Afro Caribbean girls but I'd cut a testicle of to sleep with an Indian or Pakistani girl. I don't have an attraction to men but neither do I have the knee jerk "bash the fcuking sick queer" reaction either. If it were as simple as being in your genes surely peoples sexuality would be black and white? Or should that be pink or brown?

BTW a question for you gay gents, do you feel a need to explain (I didn't say justify) to yourselves your sexual preference by this sort of means? Interested.