Science told: hands off gay sheep

[meegbear]

SCIENTISTS are conducting experiments to change the sexuality of “gay” sheep in a programme that critics fear could pave the way for breeding out homosexuality in humans.

The technique being developed by American researchers adjusts the hormonal balance in the brains of homosexual rams so that they are more inclined to mate with ewes.

It raises the prospect that pregnant women could one day be offered a treatment to reduce or eliminate the chance that their offspring will be homosexual. Experts say that, in theory, the “straightening” procedure on humans could be as simple as a hormone supplement for mothers-to-be, worn on the skin like an anti-smoking nicotine patch.

The research, at Oregon State University in the city of Corvallis and at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, has caused an outcry. Martina Navratilova, the lesbian tennis player who won Wimbledon nine times, and scientists and gay rights campaigners in Britain have called for the project to be abandoned.

<snip>

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0%2C%2C2087-2524408%2C00.html

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Ummmm ... oh, nevermind.

[mainegreen]

1. Eugenics Returns!

:barf:

[Meeker Morgan]

5. Eugenics means breeding people ...

... as if they were farm animals.

This is breeding farm animals as if they were farm animals. So what's the problem?

Since when do farm animals have a right to sexual fulfillment? What with the prevalence of selective breeding, artificial insemination instead of intercourse, and for that matter castration.

[MADem]

2. What???? Reduce or eliminate the "chance??"

By pumping the pregnant women chock full of extra hormones?

Jesus Christ on a bike! Ethics, politics, and opinions aside, who'd volunteer to be the first person to try THAT treatment? Good grief.....

But the researchers argue that the work is valid, shedding light on the “broad question” of what determines sexual orientation. They insist the work is not aimed at “curing” homosexuality.

Approximately one ram in 10 prefers to mount other rams rather than mate with ewes, reducing its value to a farmer.....The scientists have been able to pinpoint the mechanisms influencing the desires of “male-oriented” rams by studying their brains. The animals’ skulls are cut open and electronic sensors are attached to their brains.

By varying the hormone levels, mainly by injecting hormones into the brain, they have had “considerable success” in altering the rams’ sexuality, with some previously gay animals becoming attracted to ewes.

Professor Charles Roselli, the Health and Science University biologist leading the research, defended the project. He said: “In general, sexuality has been under-studied because of political concerns. People don’t want science looking into what determines sexuality.

“It’s a touchy issue. In fact, several studies have shown that people who believe homosexuality is biologically based are less homophobic than people who think that this orientation is acquired.” ....

[twilight_sailing]

3. Gattaca

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/

When we can genetically engineer our children, what will they be like?

[cui bono]

4. Messing with gay sheep is baaaaaahhhhd, mmmkay...

Michael Bailey, a neurology professor at Northwestern University near Chicago, said: “Allowing parents to select their children’s sexual orientation would further a parent’s freedom to raise the sort of children they want to raise.”

Behold the Chia Child!

Seriously though, this is very scary, for all the obvious reasons having to do with eugenics.

The interesting thing is that it confirms that homosexuality is not a choice. How are those right wing homophobes going to deal with that? Argue against this so they won't be wrong about it being a choice or push this program so they can play "god" and eliminate that which they fear and judge? And since I assume most of them are of the hyper-religious variety, how do they explain that their "god" made people homosexuals and that they are deciding their "god" has made a huge mistake that they must now correct. What will happen to their Intelligent Design theory? This could blow their little minds and worlds apart.

Proud to be the first recommend... the implications of this are truly frightening.

You should cross post this in GD, everyone needs to see this.

[va4wilderness]

6. Scary....

I was thinking about this when I heard a radio story talking about fertility clinics and selecting babies for gender, different traits, etc. I thought this is the next thing they would try.

But seriously - how do you think straight people could live without us who are queer. They would be sort of .... helpless ... or at least seriously challenged in many areas.


Like other things, there would be unforeseen consequences in this "Brave New World." Just wait.

[TaleWgnDg]

7. Hhhhmmmm . . . why is homosexuality a "political concern" but

a parental choice of fetal sexuality, i.e., male or female, is an "ethical concern?" Seriously.

Frig this UK news article. And the horse it rode in on.

The main and first rational query should be: WHO is funding these "studies?" Dig deeply into the funding, and I mean deeply into the politics not science of the funding. After ascertaining the funding answer, then ponder the scientific methodology and the results acquired. To what end will be results be used? All else is meaningless.