Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Timeout
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • Others
    • COVID-19
    • IPL 2020
    • Today’s Pic
  • GamesNew
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Timeout
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • Others
    • COVID-19
    • IPL 2020
    • Today’s Pic
  • GamesNew
No Result
View All Result
OrissaPOST - Odisha Latest news, English Daily -
Home Feature

Scientists decode Darwinian paradox, suggest homosexuality is genetic

Updated: September 25th, 2018, 11:49 IST
in Feature, Home News
0 0
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on Linkedin

New Delhi: Will homosexuality eventually be extinct?

With new evidence suggesting that homosexual behaviour is governed primarily by genetic influences and gay couples reproducing significantly less than heterosexuals, that’s a question scientists across the world are pondering.

While environmental factors play a part in the expression of a homosexual phenotype, or physical trait, scientists suggest their influence is not powerful enough to cause an otherwise heterosexual organism to become homosexual.

Scientists are also debating how such behaviour fits with British naturalist Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

“The Darwinian paradox suggested that it is impossible to maintain genes which do not promote reproduction, as in the case of homosexuality. Since homosexuals reproduce significantly less than heterosexuals, the genes promoting this trait should rapidly go extinct,” Andrea Camperio Ciani, professor of evolutionary psychology in Italy’s University of Padova, told PTI.

Ciani, who has pioneered efforts to solve why homosexuals have not become extinct from human population, notes that this paradox for a long time  excluded the genetic hypothesis and “suggested that homosexuals behave so due to a sin and a misbehaviour that can be eradicated through therapy”.

Over the past few decades, evidence has begun to accumulate that homosexuality is a behaviour that appears primarily due to biological or genetic influences, scientists said.

“The predisposition to mate with the opposite sex is aimed at reproduction and passing genes to the subsequent generations. However, homosexual behaviour is quite widespread and not a new phenomenon in the animal kingdom,” said Manaswini Sarangi, a PhD research scholar in Evolutionary Biology at Bangalore’s Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR).

“Through several studies across a variety of species, displaying homosexual behaviour has been shown to give an evolutionary advantage to the organisms,” she told PTI.

According to T N C Vidya, associate professor, Evolutionary and Organismal Biology Unit at JNCASR, some gene variants are more common amongst gay men.

“As far as I know, it is not clear to what extent homosexuality is heritable,” she said.

“Whether gene variants that influence homosexuality propagate over generations will depend on whether homosexuals get to reproduce. Even if they themselves do not reproduce, such variants may be transmitted if their relatives who carry copies of the genes but do not express them (are not homosexuals themselves) reproduce,” Vidya said.

If homosexuality is indeed heritable, she said, it does not necessarily contradict the theory of natural selection.

Ciani noted that genes promote fecundity, or ability to produce offspring, in some individuals but promote homosexuality in others. In this way, they are preserved in the human gene pool.

By studying the pedigree of hundreds of homosexuals and their families, he said he has resolved the paradox and discovered that the genes influencing homosexuality indeed exist.

Scientists also say that homosexual behaviour is not specific to humans and has been documented in over 500 non-human species, including bonobos, penguins, and even grizzly bears.

According to Sarangi, it is quite widespread in the animal kingdom, ranging from insects to birds to primates.

“Therefore, saying that homosexuality is unnatural is factually incorrect. It is another behavioural variant like in many other traits,” she said.

The Indian Supreme Court’s recent verdict decriminalising adult, consensual homosexual acts has been widely welcomed.

“I am pleased to learn that the Supreme Court of India has de-penalised  homosexuality since it is a great acquisition in civil rights. Most homosexuals are born with this orientation, under the influence of genes that belong to the normal human gene-pool,” Ciani said.

“Decriminalising homosexuals was long overdue. It will probably help to some extent against harassment of homosexuals, but society itself also has to change so that people are more welcoming of those who are not like them in some way or the other. I hope this judgment will lead the way to more changes, such as allowing gay/lesbian marriages,” said Vidya.

Sarangi added that the historic judgement decriminalising homosexual behaviour among consenting adults is a progressive step for the country.

Ciani said his findings are an outcome of a series of different research studies  conducted in the past 20 years, starting with the first publication in 2004 and a series still ongoing with statisticians, mathematicians and psychologists and students in laboratories across the world.

“Our last research, just published last year in Human Nature on a very large number of lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual females and their families, pointed to the same mechanism as we discovered in gays,” Ciani said.

An important precursor of Ciani’s studies is Dean Hamer from the US National Institute of Health who first suggested genetic inheritance in the 1990s. But most colleagues disproved his pioneering researches at the time.

Ciani hopes that his studies contribute to increased tolerance for diversity.

“I am happy that my studies and their scientific results contributed to this historical event in your large and great county, which I am particularly fond of since I started my scientific career doing field research in India studying the social behaviour of monkeys in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh,” he said.

 

PTI

Tags: scientists
Share6TweetSendShare
Suggest A Correction

Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox.

Related Posts

National Stock Exchange NSE

Investors’ wealth tumbles over Rs 9.56 lakh crore as markets fall for 5th day

January 28, 2021
Narendra Modi

Many more India-made COVID-19 vaccines to be available soon: Narendra Modi

January 28, 2021
WhatsApp

Additional biometric security for WhatsApp users on desktop

January 28, 2021

RT-PCR test resumes for Srimandir servitors

January 28, 2021
Pic Courtesy: Today's Parent

These zodiac signs will have an amazing day in terms of money; check yours

January 28, 2021

Orissa High Court to have 14 vacancies in 6 months

January 28, 2021

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

250+ Trending Games - Play Now
OrissaPOST epaper Sunday POST OrissaPOST epaper

Click Here: Plastic Free Odisha

Plastic Free Odisha

Sundargarh Public School students

Sundargarh Public School students support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Olympian Anuradha Biswal

Olympian Anuradha Biswal supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

August 30, 2018
Covaxin
Christmas

Bharat Biotech rubbishes criticism, says its vaccine is safe    

New Delhi/Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech rejected Monday criticism over the grant of emergency use authorisation by India’s drug regulator to ...

January 5, 2021
Plastic Free Odisha

IMT Pharmacy College-Puri

IMT Pharmacy College students call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

High school students of Sambalpur district

High school students of Sambalpur district support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Hockey Player Dilip Tirkey

Hockey Player Dilip Tirkey supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Elina Samantray, Actress

Elina Samantray calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

National School Kujang

National School students Kujang Jagatsinghpur district support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Actress Bhoomika Dash

Actress Bhoomika Dash calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Bhubaneswar Bar Association Lawyer Liberty Trust

Bhubaneswar Bar Association Lawyer Liberty Trust supports plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Students of Tulasipur Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Cuttack

Students of Tulasipur Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Cuttack call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Swaraj Barik, Actor

Swaraj Barik calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Angul Govt. College Students

Angul Govt. College Students support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Korei college students

Korei college students support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Anubhav Mohanty, Actor

Anubhav Mohanty supports call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sports Person Sradhanjali Samantaray

Sports Personality Sradhanjali Samantaray support a *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your Photos/Selfie (with fingers ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Kalamatia Sahid Bidyapitha students

Kalamatia Sahid Bidyapitha students support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Tanbhi Block School students and staff

Tanbhi Block School students and staff support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Puri SCS College Students

Puri SCS College Students support a plastic free odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Haratiya Bidyaniketan School students

Haratiya Bidyaniketan School students of Alipur, Bari support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Unit III Bharat Scouts and Guide

Unit III Bharat Scouts and Guides team call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sudarsan Pattnaik,Sand Artist

Sudarsan Pattnaik support a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you?  *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your Photos/Selfie ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Gandhi College Plus III science students of Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar

Gandhi Plus III science students of Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar support a plastic free Odisha. Do you?   *Visit our website orissapost.com. ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Members of All Ride Bicycle

Members of All Ride Bicycle supports a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Padmashree Aruna Mohanty-Odissi Dancer

Padmashree Odissi Dancer Aruna Mohanty calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Scoutmaster, Guide Captains, Rovers, and Rangers of Keonjhar

Scoutmaster, Guide Captains, Rovers, and Rangers of Keonjhar support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Darsheel Safary, Actor

Darsheel Safary calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Ratikant Mohapatra,Odissi Dance Director

Ratikant Mohapatra support a plastic free odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Srikumar Misra-Entrepreneur

Srikumar Misra supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Akash Dasnayak, Actor

Akash Dasnayak, Actor supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

August 30, 2018

Archives

Editorial

Outbreak underplayed

January 28, 2021

While several States of India roil under the latest outbreak of avian influenza, the strategy of mass culling of poultry...

Read more

Vox Populi

January 26, 2021

The country celebrates the 72nd Republic Day in the midst of a global pandemic-induced gloom, a ravaged economy and protests...

Read more

Wuhan Anniversary

(PC: barrons.com)
January 25, 2021

At a time when vaccines against Covid-19 are being rolled out in phases in many countries across the world, there...

Read more

Growth story over

January 24, 2021

We have entered the 13th consecutive quarter of economic slowdown in India. Gross Domestic Product, meaning the total value of...

Read more
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Career
Developed By Ratna Technology

© 2020 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST

  • Home
  • Metro
  • State
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Feature
  • Opinion
  • Sci-Tech
  • COVID-19
  • Games
  • IPL 2020
  • Today’s Pic
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Career
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2020 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
OR

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In