Biological Explanations of Homosexuality - 2341 Words

Biological Explanations for Homosexuality Katherine Callan Opening This paper is aimed to address the question of whether homosexuality is biologically based. This topic is quite relevant today because homosexuality is a huge civil rights issue which is also conflicting with the church s moral standards. While many religious bodies claim that homosexuality is a choice and a sin, many in the homosexual community have strongly refuted that claim, instead saying they were born this way and their sexual identity is not a choice for them. Currently one of the biggest debates regarding the rights of homosexuals is same sex marriage . If scientist are indeed able to show evidence that homosexuality is result of biologic or genetic†¦show more content†¦Researches conducted a longitudinal study in which behavioral development was being studied in these infants through birth through the age of six (Maccoby, Doering, Jacklin Kraemer 1979). Their main objective was to asses whether and or how a newborn s sex and birth order were related to hormones i n the umbilical chord blood. Five sex hormones were measured: progesterone, two estrogens (estrone and estradiol) and two androgens (testosterone and androstendione). The fist sample of infants consisted of 40 males and 35 females, the second consisted of 32 males and 42 females and the third consisted of 53 males and 54 females totaling to 256 newborns born between 1973 and 1974. Only infants with no complications during delivery (including caesarean births) and had an Apgar score of at least 7 were included in the samples. Right after delivery, and severance of the umbilical chord a sample of 12ml of blood was extracted and frozen for hormonal analysis. After the mother agreed to enter her child in the six year longitudinal study the frozen samples of blood were then later tested for for the five sex hormones of interest, Andrrostenedione ( 4-androstene, 17-dione), testosterone (17ÃŽ ²-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one), estrone (3-hydroxy-1, 5 (10) -estratiene-3), 17 ÃŽ ²-diol), and es tradiol (1, 3,5 (10)-estratiene-3), 17ÃŽ ²-diol) were estimated in a laboratory by radioimmunoassay methods. ProgesteroneShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Prenatal Hormones On The Developing Fetus1510 Words   |  7 Pagesthe X chromosome. Though genetic tendencies for homosexuality may be passed from mothers to their children (Rahman Wilson, 2003). During human evolution, homosexuality was developed to minimize competition between males for a limited number of potential female mates (Schulling, 2004). A different possibility is that prenatal hormone levels influence the developing fetus (Levay, 2011). 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According to Shakuntala DelviRead MoreHomosexuality : Genetic Or A Choice?1724 Words   |  7 PagesJessica Lamb Professor Daniel Levine PSYC 3320 May 9 2015 Homosexuality: Genetic or a Choice? It’s the year 2015 and the talk of homosexuality is still a controversial topic. Some people believe that being homosexual, or â€Å"gay†, is a choice and by being with someone of the same-sex you are committing a sin or doing something that is not viewed as â€Å"normal†. Although, now on television we are starting to see more and more homosexual couples and homosexual people on TV programs. Are people finally getting