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How many times have you seen or heard of dudes coming out the closest way late in their lives, after they already had a wife and kids? Genes passed.Originally Posted by AntonLaVey
Originally Posted by Kramer
Didn't read through the whole thread but:
1) If people were born gay due to some genetic thing wouldn't that gene have died off forever ago? (Due to not being able to pass it on)
-The genetics of homosexuality is probably multi-factorial -diff genes, mutations, prenatal environment may all play a role.
-The siblings of homosexuals still carry the gene and can pass it on to offspring
-There are animals in many species who have members who don't mate and still get their genes passed on. Certain individuals increase their fitness by forgoing reproduction and cooperatively caring for the offspring of their siblings.
It's complicated but read up on eusocialism and kin selection. Some evolutionary biologist hypothesize this is why homosexuality is so prevalent in nature.
There is a reason why we specify a difference between familial and non-familial genetic diseases, (I am certainly not stating being gay is a disease please don't take it that way, it's only an example) which can describe how a disease came to be genetically in one individual.
Describing whether or not there was a predisposition for the disease or whether it is arose from later genetic mutations/aberrations. Being homosexual could maybe be a gene that is passed down, but it might also spontaneously arise in random individuals. Maybe a highly variable region in the genome, which is why we see it so much.
IF homosexuality is indeed hardwired into our genes, like all other genetic abnormalities, environmental (physical and mental) effects will play a large role in the progression and phenotypic expression of these genes. Whether or not they act, well... gay.