Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Friday 30 august 2019
New genetic links to same-sex sexuality found in huge study

By LINDSEY TANNER University of Oxford sociolo-
AP Medical Writer gist Melinda Mills said in the
CHICAGO (AP) — The larg- commentary.
est study of its kind found Other experts not involved
new evidence that genes in the study had varied re-
contribute to same-sex sex- actions.
ual behavior, but it echoes Dr. Kenneth Kendler a spe-
research that says there cialist in psychiatric genet-
are no specific genes that ics at Virginia Common-
make people gay. wealth University, called
The genome-wide research it "a very important paper
on DNA from nearly half a that advances the study
million U.S. and U.K. adults of the genetics of human
identified five genetic vari- sexual preference substan-
ants not previously linked tially. The results are broad-
with gay or lesbian sexual- ly consistent with those
ity. The variants were more obtained from the earlier
common in people who technologies of twin and
reported ever having had family studies suggesting
a same-sex sexual part- that sexual orientation runs
ner. That includes people in families and is moderate-
whose partners were exclu- ly heritable."
sively of the same sex and Former National Institutes
those who mostly reported of Health geneticist Dean
heterosexual behavior. In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015 file photo, a lesbian couple holds hands in Salt Lake City. Hamer said the study con-
The researchers said thou- Associated Press firms "that sexuality is com-
sands more genetic vari- plex and there are a lot of
ants likely are involved and behavior but it's still a very ual behavior but not if they studies in identical twins. genes involved," but it isn't
interact with factors that important contributing fac- self-identified as gay or les- Many scientists believe that really about gay people.
aren't inherited, but that tor," Neale said. bian. Fewer than 5% of U.K. social, cultural, family and "Having just a single same
none of them cause the The study was released participants and about 19% other biological factors are sex experience is com-
behavior nor can predict Thursday by the journal Sci- of U.S. participants report- also involved, while some pletely different than actu-
whether someone will be ence. Results are based on ed ever having a same-sex religious groups and skep- ally being gay or lesbian,"
gay. genetic testing and survey sexual experience. tics consider it a choice Hamer said. His research in
The research "provides the responses. The researchers acknowl- or behavior that can be the 1990s linked a marker
clearest glimpse yet into Some of the genetic vari- edged that limitation and changed. on the X chromosome with
the genetic underpinnings ants found were present emphasized that the study's A Science commentary male homosexuality. Some
of same-sex sexual behav- in both men and women. focus was on behavior, not notes that the five identi- subsequent studies had
ior," said co-author Benja- Two in men were locat- sexual identity or orienta- fied variants had such a similar results but the new
min Neale, a psychiatric ed near genes involved tion. They also note that the weak effect on behavior one found no such link.
geneticist at the Broad In- in male-pattern baldness study only involved people that using the results "for Doug Vanderlaan, a Uni-
stitute in Cambridge, Mas- and sense of smell, raising of European ancestry and prediction, intervention or versity of Toronto psycholo-
sachusetts. intriguing questions about can't answer whether simi- a supposed 'cure' is wholly gist who studies sexual ori-
"We also found that it's ef- how regulation of sex hor- lar results would be found in and unreservedly impos- entation, said the absence
fectively impossible to pre- mones and smell may influ- other groups. sible." of information on sexual
dict an individual's sexual ence same-sex behavior. Origins of same-sex behav- "Future work should inves- orientation is a drawback
behavior from their ge- Importantly, most partici- ior are uncertain. Some of tigate how genetic pre- and makes it unclear what
nome. Genetics is less than pants were asked about the strongest evidence of dispositions are altered by the identified genetic links
half of this story for sexual frequency of same-sex sex- a genetic link comes from environmental factors," might signify. q

Alabama, Michigan researchers to study heat waves, causes

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — them across the United from the National Science be learned about them, Tuscaloosa newspaper re-
A University of Alabama States. Foundation, The Tuscaloo- Keellings said. ported.
researcher and scientists at David Keellings, an assistant sa News reported . “Temperature and ex- The land also plays a role
Michigan State University professor of geography at The goal of the grant is to tremes, such as heat with factors such as soil
will study the relationship the University of Alabama, develop models to help waves, are the things we’re moisture, urbanization and
between the size of heat was recently awarded a predict when and where most certain about with vegetation.
waves and what causes three-year, $340,000 grant heat waves will occur. The climate change, and they “We’re trying to get at
research will also involve have definitely become the basic understanding,”
emergency response and more frequent, higher in Keellings said. “We’re trying
public health with the aim magnitude and longer in to think about heat waves
of improved planning and duration across many parts as events with spatial di-
response to heat waves, of the globe,” he said. mensions as opposed to
Keellings said. In general, a heat wave is simply thinking of its tem-
Heat waves have become defined as abnormally hot perature.”
larger and more severe in weather for the time of Researchers at Michigan
the past 60 years. Climate year for the location. They State University will work
change is a likely culprit for can be forecast, but it is with Keellings on the proj-
more severe heat waves, difficult to predict the size, ect.
but there’s much more to duration and intensity, the q