Essay On Epigenetics

He contradicted the argument that homosexual behaviour is related to genetic, hormonal or biological disorder. To abolish these views, the author mentions that ‘no school of medicine, medical journal or professional organization has ever recognized such claims (p. 2) - at least at the time he wrote the article in 1994.

The research article suggests a structure within the human brain and a genetic link indicate the biological factor for male homosexuality. The journal investigates an experiment about the role of male genetics in sexual orientation by analysing the hypothalamus in autopsy specimens from homosexual and heterosexual men. Increased possibilities of same-sex orientation were discovered in the maternal male cousins and uncles of the participants, instead of their father or parental relatives. Also, the researchers discovered a brain cell group ‘INAH’ had a potentiality of being the sex-orientated DNA, indicating that the reason of homosexuality may be related to genetics.

In the article, “Geneticist Says Lesbianism Is Cultural, ‘Not Inherited’: Hamer Claimed Genetic Link for Male Homosexuality,” the author, Joyce Howard Price, examines a controversial research study that was performed by a geneticist with the National Cancer Research Institute, Dean Hamer. Price revealed Hamer’s conclusions of his study which illustrated different reasonings for sexual orientation in men and women. Hamer concluded that “male sexual orientation had many of the characteristics of a genetically influenced trait” (2) but that female homosexuality was rather “a willingness to listen to one’s own heart” (4) and “an openness to new feelings and new experiences.” (4). The author has also included research from other geneticists in

As humans, we are all born as individuals. Some parts of us, we are born with, like different hair and eye colors along with certain aspects of our varying personalities, and others, we learn through our experiences, such as music and fashion taste and weird senses of humor. For years, there has been one of many aspects of human beings that science cannot pinpoint whether we are born with it (nature) or if it is learned (nurture). This one aspect is sexuality. Some believe that people choose to be gay to torture their parents, while others believe that they are “born this way”. Actually, homosexuality is not solely nature or nurture, but it is both.

Research has proven the statement of “born gay” as a complete myth. “This week, a team from the University of California, Los Angeles claimed to have found several epigenetic marks—chemical modifications of DNA that don’t change the underlying

I chose this topic because there is an issue of homophobia around the world. I find it interesting as to why people are homosexual, and if there is a gene responsible for this or if it can be developed later in

Our bodies are full of DNA that contains the instructions needed for us to develop, survive and reproduce. Our DNA is wrapped around proteins called histones, and both DNA and histones are covered in chemical tags. This is called the epigenome. The epigenome shapes the structure of the genome and tells it what to do, where they do it, and when to do it. Our DNA is fixed for life, but the genome can change. Epigenetic tags react to the outside word and can change with things such as diet and stress. The epigenome will adjust specific genes in response to our environment. It will tightly wrap around inactive genes, making them unreadable. It also relaxes the active genes, making them accessible. (1)

Love CAN hurt. In recent studies The Suicide Prevention Resource Center synthesized that between 30 and 40% of LGBT youth have attempted suicide and about 9 out of 10 LGBT teens have reported being bullied at school within the past year because of their perceived sexual orientation. (CDC, 2014) There is a never-ending debate upon whether homosexuality is chosen or not. My response to this question is; “Would an individual voluntarily choose to walk against the socially accepted norms?” It is critical to investigate if acquiring a socially “different” sexual orientation is implemented into the natural being of humans biologically, a result of chemical reactions in our brains, or a chosen “lifestyle”? Sexuality, and predominantly homosexuality is a vast and controversial area to be studying. To make the focus of the extended essay more manageable, I will offer scientific research narrowed into neurology and the biology of the brain. The research question to be investigated is; to what extent is there a biological basis with neurology structurally, genetically, and prenatally behind male homosexuality?

Epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study, in the area of genetics; epigenomes control the way genes develop during a person’s lifespan. The epigenome doesn’t change your DNA, but decides how much or whether some genes manifest in different cells within the body. Tiny chemical compounds attach to the upper layer of the gene, which is made of carbon and hydrogen causing it to deactivate or go dormant. Genetic information in a cell isn’t necessarily permanent, it may vary throughout life, mostly change during a critical and/or sensitive period, for instance, puberty and pregnancy. It may also change suddenly based on environmental factors, such as, eating habits, stress levels, and daily activities. Additionally, epigenetics may be hereditary. Epigenetics will inform cells what cell they will become. This new discovery may lead us to the next big step in

factors that cause certain genes to be switched on and off, effecting how genes are expressed. Epigenetics focuses on how the genome is read as genetics focuses on the mutations. The environment is not the only thing that can affect the genome an individual lifestyle can interact directly with the genome and influence an epigenetic change. Different changes can be reflected during different stages of an individual’s life or may take place years later in future generations. The regulation of epigenetics involves the modification of DNA and associated proteins, changing the conformation of DNA without changing the sequence of DNA.

Sexuality has become a prominent issue in today’s society as the world are becoming more liberated by educational and ethical discussion. In Sociosexual orientation, homosexuality is one of the topic that has been most discussed. People have been actively seeking for answers for the question – why are humans, or other animals, attracted to partner that has the same-sex of themselves; when there are no evolutionary implications yet. Moreover, many others, especially the homosexuals, are repositioning to the question of how can they identify the seemingly minority when heterosexuality has been historically predominant.

Many people will asked themselves what is sexual orientation? I remember the first time someone asked me on a questionnaire what was my sexual orientation, I did not know what it meant, and I thought it had to do with my sexuality. The book gay, straight and reason why by neuroanatomist Simon leVay claimed that INAH3 nucleus size which is found in the brains of the homosexuals who died from AIDS in the 1980’s comparing it with straight men who died from other causes. Also there are reasons for being born gay. According to the author leVay, sexual orientation, refers to the sex a person prefers to be, feeling attraction for

Given the multitude of factors that can influence homosexuality, it makes senses that there would be many different genetic affects that influence homosexuality. Many of the genetic factors discussed in this section will be referred to as “gay genes” because it is difficult to pin point which genes are causing variations. One such “gay gene” is found to influence the reproductive fitness of its heterosexual carriers. Homosexuality is seen as a disadvantage in men, as they are not able to reproduce, but this gene is a win-win per say for both heterosexual and homosexual males. This gene, when present in abundance, will appear in individuals as homosexuality, but when carried at a lower level, it will not appear as homosexuality. It will, however, give the individual more feminine characteristics such as kindness and tenderness as well as more feminized faces that are attractive to females. All these feminine features allow the heterosexual individuals with these genes to have a greater reproductive fitness, making the burden on the homosexual individuals smaller because their genes have a greater chance of passing through when their siblings reproduce. This is one way to explain how homosexuality is still present today, because even though the homosexuals did not reproduce, their siblings with attractive features likely reproduced more to make up for them (Zietsch, 2008). To explain how this gene works, there are two different methods proposed.

Homosexuality is a behavioural trait that male or female attracts to same sex. Opposite of homosexuality called heterosexuality which is attraction to opposite sex. Homosexuality is common in humans between 3 to 10%. Before 20th century, there weren’t enough valuable studies about homosexuality due to social and religious reasons. In addition, most homosexual individuals were hiding themselves to express their feeling to avoid social exclusion and this was one of the reasons to see less incidence rate of homosexuality in population. Moreover, scientists were also reluctant to publish this kind of studies. Today, it is easy to find many researches about this topic and many others. With improvement

The question of what causes some people to be sexually attracted to members of their own gender generates many different answers. In recent years, startling new research (Barinaga, 1993, p.17) has indicated that homosexuality is possibly inherited and determined by biological differences in Brain structure and genes. This study raises an interesting question: If homosexuality is hereditary, is there any basis for societal discrimination against something innate? If it is nature, it is good. If it is good, it should be accepted. A genetic component in sexual orientation would send a message to homosexuals and the society that homosexuality is not a fault, and not the fault of anyone other than nature. Gays and lesbians are born in nature, just like some people who are inherited left-handed gene from their parents.