In the August issue of Endocrinology, Dr Balthazart presents a minireview on Hormones and Human Sexual Orientation. 1 As in most scientific papers on this issue, the contribution lacks an operational definition of (human) homosexuality. Personally, I like the definition of John Money. 2 ‘Homosexuality is characterized by same-sex contact, either as a genital act or as a long-term sexual.
Hormones have long been suspect in homosexuality. Doctors used to treat gay men with testosterone injections, until it became clear adult homosexuals don’t have blood hormone levels that differ. This chapter considers arguments that suggest the existence of hormonal control mechanisms of homosexuality. The studies reviewed show that homosexuality in men and women is significantly associated with a range of physical, functional, and behavioral characteristics that are modified from what is normally seen in heterosexual individuals.
The study of human sexuality, including homosexuality, has long fascinated scientists and researchers. Hormones play a crucial role in shaping sexual orientation, influencing physical, emotional, and psychological development. This article explores the connection between hormones and homosexuality, examining scientific findings, theories, and the complexity of this relationship.
Reviewing current scientific literature on the topic, there are several effects during gestational critical period (i.e., organizational changes because of hormonal modifications in plasma levels or in hormone receptor efficiency) that might cause or have a consequence together with sexual orientation. This is not the only sexually dimorphic region of the human brain, however. Although the exact mechanism is at this point still shrouded in mystery, researchers are continuing to search for the true cause of homosexuality.
Gorski,"Sexual orientation and the size of the anterior commissure in the human brain," Proceedings of the National Academy of the U. Once the brain is "organized" or set in a certain way, hormones that an animal is exposed to have a negligible effect on changing that organization, if there is at all an effect. When the gene was deleted in female mice, they were attracted to female odors and preferred to mount females rather than males.
Hamer's reasoning for choosing families such as these was that there would likely be a high incidence of the gene s that cause homosexuality within these families.
Stein, I did not find evidence of a single case where these methods were efficacious. Money, J, M. Gorski, J. When the medial preoptic area is decommissioned in male rats, they are still sexual beings. The human genome project is making significant progress, and scientists have been able to pinpoint distinct differences between gay and straight men on the basis of more than just fashion sense and stereotypes.
Canton, OH Southam, When female adult rats were given testosterone, there was no change in the size of this area of their brains. Those who would like to see scientific progress continue are those who would like to see the "born that way" argument validated. However, biologists have documented homosexual behavior in more than species , arguing that same-sex behavior is not an unnatural choice, and may in fact play a vital role within populations.
Are the studies that attempt to find causation moral? Marin, "Homosexual orientation in twins: A report on 61 pairs and three triplet sets," Archives of Sexual Behavior Significant studies relating heredity to homosexuality began with Richard Pillard and James Weinrich in the 's. McAnulty, eds. There are studies that have more validity.
So-called genome-wide association studies identified a gene called SLITRK6 , which is active in a brain region called the diencephalon that differs in size between people who are homosexual or heterosexual. New York: St. Studies with female macaque monkeys have shown that exposure in-utero to hormone baths in this case, excessive testosterone have led to the masculinization of female monkeys as adults.
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Tristram and Arthur L. Researchers study conditions that mimic the studies in conducted in rats. But are you aware of what those letters stand for? Burr, Chandler. As the ease and affordability of genome sequencing increased, additional gene candidates have emerged with potential links to homosexual behavior.
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