NYT: For Fruit Flies, Gene Shift Tilts Sex Orientation

[DeepModem Mom]

For Fruit Flies, Gene Shift Tilts Sex Orientation
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL,
International Herald Tribune
Published: June 3, 2005


When the genetically altered fruit fly was released into the observation chamber, it did what these breeders par excellence tend to do: It pursued a waiting virgin female. It gently tapped the girl with its leg, played her a song (using wings as instruments) and, only then, dared to lick her - all part of standard fruit fly seduction.

The observing scientist looked with disbelief at the show, for the suitor in this case was not a male, but a female that researchers had artificially endowed with a single male-type gene.

That one gene, the researchers are announcing today in the journal Cell, is apparently by itself enough to create patterns of sexual behavior - a kind of master sexual gene that normally exists in two distinct male and female variants....

***

The results are certain to prove influential in debates about whether genes or environment determine who we are, how we act and, especially, our sexual orientation, although it is not clear now if there is a similar master sexual gene for humans.

Still, experts said they were both awed and shocked by the findings. "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."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/03/science/03cell.html?hp&ex=1117771200&en=9aa5ea68d5a3e9b5&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Tux]

1. Er

At this time in history, I don't like genetic results like this. We're only another fruadulant election from setting up camps to kill gays, non-Christians, and maybe gifted people. Best to sit on that and wait till an opening in the nutty right's armor appears.

[Sushi-Lover]

9. I study fruit flies (evolutionary genetics)

This is very old news. The experiment just confirms something we've known for a fairly long time. Basically fru is a regulatory switch that controls development of sex specific neural circuits in flies (as well as some other sex specific traits).

Humans have a different system of sex determination, but studies have already shown there is a genetic component to sexual pref. However, it is polygenic and there is a role of environment (meaning anything not accounted for by genes, such as diet of the mother during pregnancy etc). No one has ever found a single major effect mutation for sexual pref. like fru in humans. Small effects from multiple genes are pretty hard to map, so I don't think there is a danger of a genetic marker or gene therapy .. at least not in the near future.

[Tux]

10. It is old

Just like the legs instead of antenna. However, living in a red state, this could be used to promote death camps to kill gays. I can't get a job since I attended a godless liberal college. Dang, bad week for job search. Are blue states facing the problem with evangelicals? I am so tired of it and feel somewhat suicidal not working.

[jayctravis]

12. Question...

Would it be correct to assume that the biology of a fruit fly is exponentially more simplistic than that of many other life forms, and one gene might be all it takes to "rewire" behavior in that organism...the whole of whose decision-making process would seem to consist of "fly, eat, reproduce"?

[Ian David]

2. Forget the penguin. Lesbian Fruitfly for President! n/t

[TalkingDog]

3. YES!! OKAY? YES...IT'S THE WAY YOU ARE BORN!!!! discussion over.

"Hopefully this will take the discussion about sexual preferences out of the realm of morality and put it in the realm of science."...

[tmorelli415]

4. I'm of two minds on this gene thing

On one hand it would be nice if it could be clearly established that homosexuality is not a choice

On the other hand if they identified a gene the religious extremists would either demand that medical science find a way to alter the gene to be 'normal'- forcing gays to undergo gene therapy, etc.

or there would be people demanding pre-natal genetic testing so that they could abort potentially gay children.

there's no way to avoid it the way i see it, and it is very disturbing to contemplate. seriously ask yourself, what would you do if you knew your baby was going to be gay? if i were a woman i'm not sure the answer i'd have myself considering all of the trauma such a child would be bound to endure would we have adoption agencies full of genetidally gay children nobody wants?

sometimes i think we're better not knowing.

[VegasWolf]

7. Hah! That would be great! What about some religious pinhead having

to make a choice between abortion vs raising a gay child.
It would blow out all of their circuit breakers.

[jayctravis]

13. Even if they identify it, they still won't know.

Sexual orientation in humans isn't a black/white thing. There's a TREMENDOUS band of gray in between.

[Coastie for Truth]

17. As more evidence accumulates

that sexual orientation is "hard wired" and "hard coded" let's hope sexual orientation moves from a question of "morality" and "life style choice" to a question like "discrimination against left handed dentists and surgeons" (Left handed dentists pay more for their "dental suites") or tallness or shortness or red hair.

But to some fundamentalists and evangelicals this may undermine their entire theological system. To which I say

- if your system of faith is based on the sand castle of gay bashing and being pro-birth instead the rock solid foundation of the Ten Commandments and The Beatitudes - you never had a real system of faith or a real theology.

[legally blonde]

5. as interesting as this is . . . .

fruit flies are a far cry from humans. Obviously, their genetic makeup is much simpler--they have fewer chromosomes and fewer alleles.

[tmorelli415]

6. definitely a far cry, but the principles of a genetic cause is the same

they also have more legs and a brain the same size as cuckoo bananas' brain. ;-)

[legally blonde]

8. LOL - true enough

Welcome to DU, tmorelli415! :hi:

[daleo]

11. Doesn't God give fruit flies free will?

When you think about it, to a being of infinite intelligence and power, would there really be a lot of difference between humans and fruit flies? I mean, we would both seem pretty stupid and powerless.

I suppose God is supposed to be able to handle these difficulties, though.

[Ian David]

14. Gay Fruit Fly for President

Gay Fruit Fly for President

[DeepModem Mom]

16. Adding photo that accompanied article --

a different fruit fly view.


Oliver Meckes/Nicole Ottawa/ Photo Researchers, Inc.

[Ian David]

18. Thank you. Here's more Gay Fruit Fly for President posters

Because 13,601 Genes are enough:



Gay Fruit Fly for President

[DeepModem Mom]

19. Oh, wow -- you are good, Ian! nt

[TeeYiYi]

15. A curious non sequitur . . .

. . . I've had a fruit fly that visits me for the last 25 years or so. It started in my late teens or early twenties. I've long since decided that it must be my totem. *lol* Other people have totems like tigers or bears. Mine is a fruit fly. Probably a genetically altered one at that, which would make sense. The thing is, I don't live in the tropics, I don't keep fruit in my house. And it goes to work and parties with me. Well, not with me (like in a little pet carrier) but it will show up after I get to where I'm going. *lol*

OK, back to the OP topic . . .

TYY :D