I gave my saliva to 23andme two years ago. I’ve been suicidal my whole life. If genetic markers for suicidal tendencies are discovered in the future, can they use my stored sample to assist in such studies?
Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14, linked to Homosexuality
31–40 of 146 posts
Re: Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14, linked to Homosexuality
#32Wow, the bioethical implications of potentially identifying the mechanism of sexual orientation are staggering. I wonder if / how long it will be before parents have the technical means—if not the legal right—to alter their child to be gay or straight through gene therapy. Or even simply selectively bring to term one orientation or the other.
It's interesting how the timing has an effect on the ethical implications as well. If we had this technology 50 years ago it would be a clear cut case of selecting the straight genes only. This discovery coming now means that the debate could go the other way (no interfering).
Much of the world is also less friendly to homosexuality, to put it lightly. I wonder if they will eliminate it entirely?
Re: Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14, linked to Homosexuality
#33I suspect that as we come to better understand genetics, we (as a society) are going to be more and more uncomfortable with the findings that we uncover. Physics and mathematics have made it long since clear that the universe is deterministic, that all the answers lie in the genes and atoms and equations we are made up of. The implications of this are dire - our society is built on exactly the opposite foundations; l…
> Physics and mathematics have made it long since clear that the universe is deterministic Have they?
No
Re: Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14, linked to Homosexuality
#34I suspect that as we come to better understand genetics, we (as a society) are going to be more and more uncomfortable with the findings that we uncover. Physics and mathematics have made it long since clear that the universe is deterministic, that all the answers lie in the genes and atoms and equations we are made up of. The implications of this are dire - our society is built on exactly the opposite foundations; l…
Physics gave up being "deterministic" (in the sense you used the term in) about 120 years ago. And mathematics is just a convenient tool with which we describe reality, no one would seriously think today that our math is deeply inscribed in the essence of reality as Galileo thought. Apart from this, and the fact that the paper shows a very weak statistical significance, I agree fully with your last statement.
> the paper shows a very weak statistical significance
How so? The p values are quite low.
Re: Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14, linked to Homosexuality
#35First critique that immediately comes to mind is how the 1,077 homosexual men and 1,231 heterosexual men were selected. If Republicans have taught us anything, it's that self-reporting is not an accurate measure. From the paper: "classified men as homosexual based on both their self-reported sexual identity and sexual feelings" Furthermore, how does this study explain sexual fluidity? IE: I liked kissing boys when I…
Next paper: Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14 linked to willingness to participate in scientific studies.
Re: Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14, linked to Homosexuality
#36I suspect that as we come to better understand genetics, we (as a society) are going to be more and more uncomfortable with the findings that we uncover. Physics and mathematics have made it long since clear that the universe is deterministic, that all the answers lie in the genes and atoms and equations we are made up of. The implications of this are dire - our society is built on exactly the opposite foundations; l…
Physics gave up being "deterministic" (in the sense you used the term in) about 120 years ago. And mathematics is just a convenient tool with which we describe reality, no one would seriously think today that our math is deeply inscribed in the essence of reality as Galileo thought. Apart from this, and the fact that the paper shows a very weak statistical significance, I agree fully with your last statement.
> no one would seriously think today that our math is deeply inscribed in the essence of reality
This is straight up wrong; most physicists I know, regardless of subdiscipline, basically agree on some variation of the idea that reality is somehow underpinned by algebraic structures.
Re: Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14, linked to Homosexuality
#37Wow, the bioethical implications of potentially identifying the mechanism of sexual orientation are staggering. I wonder if / how long it will be before parents have the technical means—if not the legal right—to alter their child to be gay or straight through gene therapy. Or even simply selectively bring to term one orientation or the other.
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Re: Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14, linked to Homosexuality
#38I suspect that as we come to better understand genetics, we (as a society) are going to be more and more uncomfortable with the findings that we uncover. Physics and mathematics have made it long since clear that the universe is deterministic, that all the answers lie in the genes and atoms and equations we are made up of. The implications of this are dire - our society is built on exactly the opposite foundations; l…
> Physics and mathematics have made it long since clear that the universe is deterministic Except none of them have any idea whats really going on...
Compared to what? Yes, we can rest on the technicality that science is only an ever-expanding and ever-solidifying theory, but can't–by fallibility of perception–ever reach perfect truth. So what though. What else do we have to go on?
Regardless, the fact that we've made any strides at all within these fields is proof of determinism. If not 100% determinism, then enough to dispel notions of a "just world."
Re: Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14, linked to Homosexuality
#39I suspect that as we come to better understand genetics, we (as a society) are going to be more and more uncomfortable with the findings that we uncover. Physics and mathematics have made it long since clear that the universe is deterministic, that all the answers lie in the genes and atoms and equations we are made up of. The implications of this are dire - our society is built on exactly the opposite foundations; l…
> Physics and mathematics have made it long since clear that the universe is deterministic Have they?
Sure, John Calvin told us so. And then we rejected it. And then it became a sure thing again. And then not . . . and now here we are.
Re: Two genes in Chromosomes 13 and 14, linked to Homosexuality
#40I suspect that as we come to better understand genetics, we (as a society) are going to be more and more uncomfortable with the findings that we uncover. Physics and mathematics have made it long since clear that the universe is deterministic, that all the answers lie in the genes and atoms and equations we are made up of. The implications of this are dire - our society is built on exactly the opposite foundations; l…
Eh, I don't know if you want to take it quite that far. Your genes might predispose you towards one path or another, but there is still free will involved. Complex sociological events like someone committing a criminal act can't just be reduced to "their genes made them do it." There are other factors involved and they are far more complex than what can be reduced to simple genetics. I think sexual orientation is pro…
> Your genes might predispose you towards one path or another, but there is still free will involved.
Genetic determinism is not the same as free will. Our genes don't determine everything, but together with our environment, they do.