To what extent is gayness influenced by nurture

A genetic analysis of almost half a million people has concluded there is no single "gay gene". The study, published in Scienceused data from the UK Biobank and 23andMe, and found some genetic variants associated with same-sex relationships. Advocacy group GLAAD said the study confirmed "no conclusive degree to which nature or nurture influenced how a gay or lesbian person behaves.

The researchers scanned the genomes - the entire genetic make-up - ofpeople signed up to the UK Biobank project, and 68, registered with the genetics company 23andMe.

Nature vs. Nurture: The Biology of Sexuality

Participants were also asked whether they had same-sex partners exclusively, or as well as opposite-sex partners. Five specific genetic variants were found to be particularly associated with same-sex behaviour, including one linked to the biological pathway for smell, and others to those for sex hormones.

Ben Neale, an associate professor in the Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, who worked on the study, said: "Genetics is less than half of this story for sexual behaviour, but it's still a very important contributing factor. Fah Sathirapongsasuti, senior scientist at 23andMe, added; "This is a natural and normal part of the variation in our species and that should also support precisely the position that we shouldn't try and develop gay 'curism'.

That's not in anyone's interest. Zeke Stokes, from the LGBT media advocacy organisation GLAAD, said: "This new research re-confirms the long-established understanding that there is no conclusive degree to which nature or nurture influence how a gay or lesbian person behaves.

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