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Like most, I'm mildly interested in the news that researchers seem to have located a "master gene" that controls sexual behavior (i.e., sexual orienation) in fruit flies:
"The results are so clean and compelling, the whole field of the genetic roots of behavior is moved forward tremendously by this work," said Dr. Michael Weiss, chairman of the department of biochemistry at Case Western Reserve University. "Hopefully this will take the discussion about sexual preferences out of the realm of morality and put it in the realm of science."
Still, I stick to my caveat that gays should not expect discoveries such as this to change many opinions, especially among those not eager to have their opinions changed.
From the anti-gay perspective, sexual orientation is either genetic or it isn't. If it is genetic, then it's a "disease." If it's not genetic, then it's a "choice" (or the result of bad parenting or schooling).
As I blogged previously:
Gays will never, ever win this debate, and politically it doesn't really matter anyway. From the perspective of science, medicine and sociology, sure — let's find out. But let's always keep the legal, political and moral implications — or lack thereof — in the proper context.
This latest shift toward the "genetic" camp may significantly advance the science, but it will not significantly advance the politics.
Other thoughts at Jump In and Ratboy's Anvil and Beaverhausen. See also Scrappleface.
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