Q&A: Molecular Biologist Dean Hamer on 'ex-gay' issues

[alhawal1]

@InGothika its all riligons really, or people in charge of them

[rooio3]

There is a genetic component more recently discovered, maybe not widely talked about. But so far they have found that sexual orientation is a combination of many factors. That's why no one has been able to single it down to one simple thing. There are hormonal factors during pregnancy, genetic factors, biological factors, and environmental factors all merged together. Maybe they will discover even more as time progresses, but so far this is what has been observed and revealed in studies.

[auronos1]

This video is very old. Dr. Hamer is referring to a study that was published over 10 years ago now. Since then a genome wide study of gay men revealed an additional 3 genetic loci above and beyond the Xq28 genetic marker that hamer identified. This supports the assertions Dean hamer makes that male same sex attraction is a polygenetic phenotype. Although this video is very old Dean hamer ended up being right. See Mustanski (2005) "A genomewide scan of sexual orientation"

[dard1313]

If being born gay is genetic non choice, non learned then that would make you impaired, since it renders reproductive sexual organs strictly sexual organs because

you can not function them for reproductive purposes except with lab assistance or going against genetic programing which then makes it a "choice".

[TheRawr75]

@dard1313 Being sexually attracted to other doesn't involve reproducing...

[yourass117]

This is one of the dumbest videos ive ever seen......

[CrossoverManiac]

"Clearly gays inherit their homosexuality from their heterosexual parents." This is politically motivated junk science.

[rlchevy]

@CrossoverManiac Obvious you do not understand how genes work. You can have for example a redheaded child from two dark headed parents because they carry recessive genes. Yes, children can and do inheret genes that the parents do not exhibit. Study up dude.

[CrossoverManiac]

@rlchevy Obvious *you* don't understand genetics. Even in the case of recessive genes, the traits will show along a linerage. Also, the trait would be a rare one based on the fact that it adversely affects reproduction and offspring with that trait will be less likely to reproduce. IOW: homosexuality would have a visible affect on a family tree.

[rlchevy]

@CrossoverManiac It is true that it would show up previously in the family lineage; however, unlike other genetic traits that cannot be hidden this one can. In a society where even one's life can be threatened, the person will not openly display this trait. Many never act on it. Also little research will be amaze many at how many married "heterosexual" men visit public parks, rest areas, adult video stores, and such and no one knows. The stigma prevents really seeing the family lineage.

[rlchevy]

@CrossoverManiac. By the way it didn't prevent me or my partner from having several children a piece before we felt society acceptance enough to be real with ourselves. I also have many friends who had multiple children before coming out. It was not a problem.

[xcstar262]

dard you sounds like a big fool. Do you honestly think that you know more than a man who is number one gay himself, and number two dedicated his whole career to understanding this subject. Oh and number three has gone through probably a decade of school learning about genetics while you have some scatterbrained comments on racial attraction. Since when do people LEARN to be attracted to other races. Its inborn, just like you have certain tastes for foods, or activties you are drawn to. Fool

[dard1313]

@xcstar262 uou forgot reason four......... "Bias"

I'm not attacking Gay people. I am simply saying sexual attraction is to a degree learned and all sexual pursuits are individual choices to be acted or not acted on. Just like I choose to not pursue a married woman despite my involuntary emotion.

[Vykhtor]

There is no brown eye color gen? Then meybe I should just accept that my eye color is blue, I just have to accept that :)))

[dard1313]

We are talking about sexual attraction. everybody knows that. you don't have to slap on a phd to your name to bring experience on the subject. People have learned to be attracted to other ethnic races just because they have practiced and explored the mental possiblity. If attraction is genetic than you won't have dna twins differ.

[Deelucky84]

Dard you seem to be reaching for someone to talk to. Why not get friend?

[dard1313]

No correlation between upbringing and sexual orientation. What are you talking about? sexual attraction period has a great deal to do with your life exposure, thoughts, and reflections. the ideas you entertain. Depending on how open you are to something, the more likely you can aquire a taste for it.

[dard1313]

Dean hamer simply has an argument that is really wanted to be believed. listen to what he says.

I'm all for freedom of choice as long as it doesn't kill someone. God gave us that ability to choose with free will.

but don't call a dog a duck.

[dard1313]

I don't hate gays. God does not hate gays. God simply disapproves with sexual immorality for all people. If everyone had sex with just one person all their life their would be no stds passed around.

People can learn to get aroused to particular practices. Own it people.

[dard1313]

The study of twins did not prove that genes did anything. lol

look if you want to be gay then be gay. Don't blame your actions on your genes! lol

Do people have a foot fetish gene? lol Look if identical twins who have the same dna come out different, just one time, (let alone half) then its not genetics because they are the same geneticly. The guy is bias. I believe everyone has the right to choose how you want to live your life but sexual orientation for anyone is learned behavior.

[rodgierad]

You clearly have had little or no exposure to MZ twins. First, there are no such things as "identical twins": that is a misnomer.

If the typical chance of a male being gay in the general population is less that 10%, and fraternal twins have a 20% chance of both being gay, and MZ twins have over a 50% chance of being gay...

THATS GENETIC.

MZ twins are NOT identical-but they are much more similar than non-MZ twins and are 5X more likely to both be gay than two random guys on the street.

[barbaralw]

@dard1313 Genes are not always expressed, or are expressed (or turned on) due to environmental factors that are not well understood.

I know, or have known, more than a thousand people --- both men and women -- who identify as gay. Nearly all knew they were gay as very young children, even if they didn't know how to verbalize or act on their intuition and feelings.

Regardless of where sexual orientation comes from, we can be certain that it's not simply due to a single gene.

[freedom0f5peech]

The religious right hates science... it's no secret. They always have, and always will. Reason and logic are the enemies of the religious right. They want their hate so bad that can't stand it! Make no mistake, religion (specifically the Abrahamic religions) teach hate... if you think I'm wrong about this, pick up a Bible, Torah, or Quran and read it... for every good verse there are 2 verses preaching hate.

[barbaralw]

@freedom0f5peech I don't agree with your generalization about Abrahamic religions, but it's too long a discussion for a comment section on YouTube! :-)

[videoclipsx]

Please, search name: STEFAN LANKA on Google!

Thanks in ADVANCE.

[curtisnewton77]

he thinks that there is no virus that causes illness?!? the HI-Virus does not cause AIDS?!? very odd point of view...

[BeatBuddy]

I haven't found one single argument against gays that holds any substance. The far right doesn't want to accept this science because it undermines a major excuse for persecuting gay people, that gays are reprobates. If one aspect of their ideological package is proven wrong, then all other aspects come into question. This scares the living daylights out of them. Sexual orientation is inborn; reprobates are made.