Genetic Basis of Homosexuality

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the concepts of inheritance on issues of intelligence and personality, or any issue that seems to indicate a biological basis for human behavior. The paper concludes that while it can make its case for the inheritance of sexual preference, it needs larger study populations to be more definitive and that there appears to be no one theory that at this time can lead to a definitive answer.

Table of Contents:
Introduction To The Topic
Theories on Homosexuality - Socio-biological Perspectives
Theories of Inheritance - The Brain Studies Model
Theories of Inheritance - The Twin Study
Summary

From the Paper:

"The authors did note that there appeared to be one significantly inconsistent result in their study. In respect to the non-twin brothers, and not reported in the data above, the rate of homosexuality was 9.2%, which was significantly lower than the expected rate. (It should be explained that the rate of homosexuality in this group should be approximately the same for non-twin brothers as it would be for dizygotic twins)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Sullivan, A (1995) Virtually Normal: an Argument about Homosexuality. Alfred A. Knopf; New York, NY, 1995.
• Bailey, JM & Pillard, RC (1991) A Genetic Study of Male Sexual Orientation. Arch Gen Psychiat. 48:1089-1096
• LeVay, S., (1991) A Difference in Hypothalamic Structure Between Heterosexual and Homosexual Men. Science 253:1034-1037
• Bell, A. P., Weinberg, M. S., Hammersmith, S. K., (1991) Sexual Preference: Its Development in Man and Woman. Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press
• Davison, K., Brierly, H., Smith, C. (1971) A Male Monozygotic Twinship Discordant for Homosexuality Brit J Psychiat. 1971; 118:675-682

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