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Originally Posted by The Brandon Five
The thing I can't wrap my head around is the genetics of it. Traits that reduce the likelihood of reproducing (i.e. reduce the likelihood of being passed on) should over time diminish in occurrence unless they are due to a frequently-occurring mutation. Maybe it is due to a set of genes that express as preference for the same sex only in particular combinations?
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Its not clear if it is at all genetic. There isn't any single gay gene we've found, and identical twins have been observed with different sexualities. So natural selection and genetics probably isn't involved.
As much as I hate to use this example (as the analogy is generic in basis) it could be an error in the reproduction that can't be eliminated - like down syndrome being the result of an extra inherited allele. That error can't be inherited, it's just a chance event where an extra chromosome ends up in the wrong place. Same here, just a structural issue somewhere.
If it was genetic however, natural selection could still allow this outcome. Group selection is a controversial idea that holds that traits can be selected for even though they may not help the individual. They instead help the group.
As it pertains to homosexuality, some have argued that gay animals often take the role of an extra caretaker since in those populations everyone having their own kids is too hard to maintain. (takes a whole village to raise a kid and all).
Thus you have extra adults who can help raise the next generation without focusing on their own kids.
How the actual gene(s) are passed on (again, if they exist) isnt clear. One explanation I've heard but don't really buy is the following:
Having a gay uncle means the nephews grow up more often than children without a gay uncle who dont take care of them. Since they are related, the gay gene could be passed on through this nephew (as their parent related to the gay uncle would have it too).
Group selection is vastly more complicated than that, but it's an interesting idea. The specifics haven't been worked out or even validated however.
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The Patriots have been overachievers the past two years. It doesn't have the talent to compensate for injuries, and it wins so much because it puts in 99% effort in the regular season and plays with terrific schemes to mask its deficiencies.
But in the playoffs a good team at 99% will not beat emotional, talented teams that play at 100%. It's what happened against the Giants in 2011 and the Ravens in 2012.
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Re: Origins of Homosexaulity - Discussion
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