The Gay Gene Doesn't Exist, Claims the Largest Study in History

Genetic studies concerning homosexuality are ongoing. Here, you can discover the findings of the latest scientific research.

Over time, one issue that has caused the most intrigue among the scientific community is the fact of whether a gay gene exists. As a matter of fact, a number of investigations have come up with many different results.

It all started with an investigation in 1993. This was conducted with a group of 40 pairs of siblings who identified as LGBT. The study detected that more than half of the pairs analyzed had similar traits on one of their chromosomes.

Due to this discovery, researchers dared to affirm that there was a gene that determined people’s sexual identity. For that reason, ever since, it’s been extremely common to hear this statement in everyday life.

However, this information didn’t finish clarifying the picture. As a matter of fact, it generated more concerns. Therefore, in 2019, researchers decided to carry out the most extensive study ever related to the genetic analysis of homosexual people.

The new study and the gay gene

This new study was conducted by European specialists with more than 400,000 people residing in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the first instance, they were asked if they’d ever had a homosexual relationship. Those who answered affirmatively had their DNA analyzed.

Then, the researchers proceeded to the analysis phase. They determined that there isn’t one single gay gene. In fact, they managed to find five different genetic markers that are related to sexual orientation.

However, the researchers also explained that it would be incorrect to state that sexual identity only depends on these factors. As a matter of fact, the figures also revealed that these genetic markers don’t actually predict anything significant.

“The five genes added together signify less than 1%,” said the scientists involved in the analysis.

For that reason, they concluded that apart from genes, there are social and cultural experiences that have an influence on whether a person becomes homosexual or not. As a result, these tests on their own are unable to give a definitive answer because they ignore the influences of the environment.

The current panorama

Like the previous findings, this one isn’t definitive. However, it provides certain new clues towards the discovery of new information. Nevertheless, what’s become clear is that genetics do have an influence, but it’s not the only trigger.

For this reason, the researchers involved in this study pointed out that it’ll be necessary to continue with large-scale research in order to continue deciphering this issue.