Further Study into Homosexuality

L.Jenkins

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12825688

I won't say much on it, but I can imagine that the quaks are foaming at the mouth to push a cure with further research.

wonderfulname

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature09822.html. It costs to see all of it however there is a lot more information in it than in the BBC article.

Chuchoter

Serotonin, to my recollection, is the chemical that causes depression if you don't have enough of it am I right? Is a symptom of depression not lack of libido? Sounds more likely they've bred depressed mice :P

Also, contradiction much?

When presented with a choice of partners, they showed no overall preference for either males or females.

When just a male was introduced into the cage, the modified males were far more likely to mount the male and emit a "mating call" normally given off when encountering females than unmodified males were.

AndrewJD

Crayolastereo, it's not worded particularly well (read: scientifically), but the intended meaning is that they are far more likely to mount males than in the unmodified mice. Presumably (haven't got access to Nature site at home to go further) this was at a similar level to the mounting rates on females.

I think reading through to the second half of the BBC article, it shoots itself in the foot in terms of relevance by pointing out the huge differences between us and mice. As well as that, the mice didn't exactly exhibit homosexuality, it could well be their ability to differentiate genders was affected and nothing to do with "switching" gender preference. Could it have any bearing on bisexuality and the like? It's nowhere near being able to say anything about that.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, and it's used all over the place. It has thousands of links to all sorts of behavioural disorders and mental illness, as well as influence over personality and general behaviour, so I doubt it would be particularly surprising if it played a part in the homosexual puzzle. But you're right, they may have been depressed. Poor mice

Bottle_of_Smoke

ItsThatManAgain wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12825688

I won't say much on it, but I can imagine that the quaks are foaming at the mouth to push a cure with further research.

I wouldn't think so, be like trying to cure gingers. Actually trying to cure dark skinned people would be a better analagy.

Anyway I don't think this has any bearing on human sexuality. It mentions in the article that they think sexual attraction in mice is based on smell.

Furthermore, they are bred without seretonin! I wouldn't have thought you could survive without some level of it! If you took a group of homosexuals and measured their seretonin they'd all have varying levels but you can be damn sure none of them would have zero seretonin, can't imagine you could develop as a human without it

LGiamani

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

I wouldn't think so, be like trying to cure gingers. Actually trying to cure dark skinned people would be a better analagy.

Anyway I don't think this has any bearing on human sexuality. It mentions in the article that they think sexual attraction in mice is based on smell.

Furthermore, they are bred without seretonin! I wouldn't have thought you could survive without some level of it! If you took a group of homosexuals and measured their seretonin they'd all have varying levels but you can be damn sure none of them would have zero seretonin, can't imagine you could develop as a human without it

It is a great way to fill an empty slot on TV. They never will eliminate homosexuality. Science will try to eliminate as much as possible but they will never get rid of homosexuality. It is a natural way of keeping the worlds population from becoming too large for the world to support. Why do'nt the spent the money on research to help causes more in need of development like cancer etc

Bottle_of_Smoke

LGiamani wrote: »

It is a great way to fill an empty slot on TV. They never will eliminate homosexuality. Science will try to eliminate as much as possible but they will never get rid of homosexuality. It is a natural way of keeping the worlds population from becoming too large for the world to support. Why do'nt the spent the money on research to help causes more in need of development like cancer etc

I get the impression this experiment was done for another reason and they just happened to notice it interfered with the mice sexual attraction signals.

LGiamani

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

I get the impression this experiment was done for another reason and they just happened to notice it interfered with the mice sexual attraction signals.

Exactly I pretty sure human sexual attraction when straight or gay is more complex than smell of another. Human sexual attraction is based on physical mental emotional and spirtual connections with others. IMO there is not much difference in the psysological aspect of relationship between hetro and homosexual. We all need love acceptance understanding emotional connection to each other in order to maintain physical and emotional wellbeing. On the other hand if I see a hot guy and he smells nice in my mind I will do what the mice do but not in reality as a human I would look for alot more .

wonderfulname

LGiamani wrote: »

Exactly I pretty sure human sexual attraction when straight or gay is more complex than smell of another. Human sexual attraction is based on physical mental emotional and spirtual connections with others. IMO there is not much difference in the psysological aspect of relationship between hetro and homosexual. We all need love acceptance understanding emotional connection to each other in order to maintain physical and emotional wellbeing. On the other hand if I see a hot guy and he smells nice in my mind I will do what the mice do but not in reality as a human I would look for alot more .

I know its nice to think that but it is just chemistry.

LGiamani

wonderfulname wrote: »

I know its nice to think that but it is just chemistry.

That exactly what I should have wrote my ending was poorly thought out.

Chuchoter

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

I wouldn't think so, be like trying to cure gingers. Actually trying to cure dark skinned people would be a better analagy.

You don't think people are already trying to do it? What about Dr. Maria New? She was giving dexamethosone to CAH fetuses who were female so they would be 'less masculine' and less likely to be gay, despite that it tackles few of the actual medical problems caused by the condition and leads to behavioral and cognitive difficulties and isn't even approved by the FDA.

bitter_lemon

lol thats gas!
when any new male is introduced to other male rodents they always try to mount them. it has nothing to do with sexual preference. its solely about dominance in the rodent world. females tend to do the same. not in all cases but in most scenarios.
and some prisons