New support for ‘gay gene’

Abstract

Replication of 1993 study highlights same region on X chromosome, but some still call evidence inconclusive. A new study of gay siblings revisits a finding that sparked social and scientific controversy more than 20 years ago. In a 1993 paper, molecular biologist Dean Hamer showed evidence that a region on the X chromosome is associated with male homosexuality, but several studies failed to confirm his finding. The largest replication effort so far, published online this week in Psychological Medicine , identifies the same region, known as Xq28. Not everyone is convinced by the evidence, however. And the genetic linkage technique the authors used can't offer what behavioral geneticists want most: a specific gene or genes that might subtly predispose a person to be gay.