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60 Minutes Reports on Nature VS Nurture [message #29247]

Sun, 12 March 2006 22:02

E.J.

Really getting into it

Location: U.S.
Registered: August 2003
Messages: 565

This will be on US TV tonight.

The Science Of Sexual Orientation
March 12, 2006
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/09/60minutes/main1385230.shtml

CBS) What determines whether a person is gay or straight has been the focus of social, religious and political discussions for years that almost always come down to the question: is it nature or nurture?

While scientists say a definitive answer is years away, their studies – including some of twins – are providing some early and interesting clues to inform the debate.

60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl reports on this fascinating subject this Sunday, March 12, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Studies of a pair of 9-year-old twins raised by the same mother in the same house who exhibit opposite tendencies seem to rule out the nurture argument. Adam paints his nails and plays with dolls; he asked his mother for a Barbie doll when he was just 18 months old. His twin brother Jared has as many GI Joes as Adam has girl dolls and prefers his camouflage bedspread to his twin brother's pastel-colored one. He wanted fire trucks when he was 18 months old.

Adam's behavior is an example of childhood gender nonconformity, say scientists. Research shows that most children with extreme tendencies toward gender nonconformity grow up to be gay.

But is it nature then? Another set of twins, Greg and Steve, grew up in the same house. Steve liked sports and the outdoors while Greg liked helping out in the kitchen, says their mother. Today, Greg is gay and Steve is straight but they are identical twins with the same DNA. So how can it be nature?

Some scientists say the key to what determines sexuality could be in the womb. In a study of rats, researchers discovered they could alter the sexual behavior of the rodents. The rats are born premature and approximate humans still in the womb. Scientists manipulating levels of the male hormone testosterone in the premature rats could alter their sexual behavior at maturity, causing males to act like females and vice versa.

Another interesting observation scientists have made is a relationship between the amount of older brothers a boy has and the likelihood he will be gay. Studies suggest the more older brothers a boy has, the greater chance he will be gay.

But at this early stage in a still under-funded field, there are many more questions than answers. The emerging consensus among scientists, though, is that people are born gay. The exact mechanism is still a mystery.

By Shari Finkelstein ©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc.

(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)

		60 Minutes Reports on Nature VS Nurture By: E.J. on Sun, 12 March 2006 22:02
		Re: 60 Minutes Reports on Nature VS Nurture By: timmy on Sun, 12 March 2006 22:11
		I agree with Timmy . By: cossie on Mon, 13 March 2006 03:17
		Re: I agree with Timmy . By: Brian1407a on Mon, 13 March 2006 23:36
		Re: 60 Minutes Reports on Nature VS Nurture By: marc on Tue, 14 March 2006 00:01
		I have worked it out! By: timmy on Tue, 14 March 2006 09:20
		Re: I have worked it out! By: thirdfencepost on Tue, 14 March 2006 14:42
		Also...... Another load of crap....... By: marc on Tue, 14 March 2006 00:06
		Re: Also...... Another load of crap....... By: E.J. on Tue, 14 March 2006 02:53
		Re: Also...... Another load of crap....... By: marc on Tue, 14 March 2006 03:10
		Re: Also...... Another load of crap....... By: E.J. on Tue, 14 March 2006 03:22
		'60 Minutes' and the 'Queen Gene' By: Guest on Thu, 16 March 2006 05:45
		Re: Also...... Another load of crap....... By: thirdfencepost on Tue, 14 March 2006 14:44
		Orientation trip? By: cossie on Wed, 15 March 2006 04:02
		Re: Orientation trip? By: thirdfencepost on Thu, 16 March 2006 14:43
		Re: Also...... Another load of crap....... By: pimple on Wed, 15 March 2006 04:45
		Re: 60 Minutes Reports on Nature VS Nurture By: electroken on Thu, 16 March 2006 16:43
		Re: 60 Minutes Reports on Nature VS Nurture By: electroken on Fri, 17 March 2006 19:11
		Re: 60 Minutes Reports on Nature VS Nurture By: timmy on Fri, 17 March 2006 22:59
		Re: 60 Minutes Reports on Nature VS Nurture By: Handyman on Sat, 18 March 2006 06:04
		Re: 60 Minutes Reports on Nature VS Nurture By: pimple on Sat, 18 March 2006 06:13
		Re: 60 Minutes Reports on Nature VS Nurture By: Handyman on Sat, 18 March 2006 12:22

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