Korean scientist turns mice "lesbian" by removing gene

• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2010-07-13 01:29
  [Image: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01674/mice_1674890c.jpg]

  
  
  

  The simple procedure causes the modified mice to reject the advances of their male counterparts and attempt to mate with fellow females.
  
  Researchers found that disabling the FucM gene – which influences the levels of oestrogen to which the brain is exposed – caused the mice to behave as if they were male as they grew up.
  
  Professor Chankyu Park of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejon, South Korea, who led the research, said: "The mutant female mouse underwent a slightly altered developmental programme in the brain to resemble the male brain in terms of sexual preference."
  
  Scientists have long sought a genetic link to homosexuality, but the academics behind the latest study stressed that it was impossible to say whether their discovery had any relevance to human sexuality.
  
  By deleting the enzyme-producing gene, the scientists believe that they caused the female mice to be exposed to extra oestrogen, by preventing their brains from filtering out the hormone.
  
  While oestrogen masculinises the brain in mice, it does not have the same effect on humans.
  
  Professor Park now hopes to investigate whether the enzyme produced by the gene – fucose mutarotase – has any influence on human sexuality, but conceded that it may be "very difficult" to find willing volunteers.
  
  His most recent findings have been published in the BMC Genetics journal.

  
  
  Female mice 'can be turned lesbian by deleting gene' - Telegraph
  
  No wonder Justin bieber has a preference for female humans
  
  So anyway, don't be too worried about this being forced on humans
  unless if they're doing scientific research on forced subjects.
• Andy-Buddy wrote on 2010-07-13 01:49
  FucM gene. (F*ck Males).
  
  Somewhat fitting.
• Swordslayer wrote on 2010-07-13 01:51
  Yea not many people are willing to get genes messed up =/
  
  For humans I think sexuality also has to do with the mind as well.
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-07-13 02:16

  Quote from BobYoMeowMeow;91278:

  
  No wonder Justin bieber has a preference for female humans
  
  

  Justin Bieber is a mouse?
• Serathx wrote on 2010-07-13 02:31
  Interesting discovery. owo
  And yeah, it's not like there's any risk of humans getting this gene removed.
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-07-13 02:49
  I can't imagine any willing participants either.
  
  But it's basically established that homosexuality has a large part to do with hormones and chemicals in the brain.
• Ninjam wrote on 2010-07-13 03:46
  Yea, they even said it would be "difficult" to find willing participants. I mean, the only people i can imagine that would go for it are people that are already messed up in the head, and that wouldnt help with the study.
• Phunkie wrote on 2010-07-13 03:48
  And then people say that gays can control being gay.
  
  Nope. It's all about both body chemicals and the environment you're raised in.
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-07-13 04:20

  Quote from Phunkie;91455:

  And then people say that gays can control being gay.
  
  Nope. It's all about both body chemicals and the environment you're raised in.

  
  
  Those're mostly religious people anyways.
  
  Science doesn't have as much of an effect.
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-07-13 04:36
  I would think that being gay is my choice, not chemicals ._.
• Chiri wrote on 2010-07-13 04:44
  It seems more like a gender change than a sexuality one. As if they unlocked the butch female gene.
• Zid wrote on 2010-07-13 04:55
  Surprised nobody thought of the implications this could mean on people who want to "turn" another person's orientation.
  
  "My baby's going to be homosexual? Doctor, you MUST change the homosexual gene now!"
• Chiri wrote on 2010-07-13 05:07
  You can't really change a baby's genes. All they can do is just either select the 'straightest' fertilized egg of a bunch or abort it if it's already at that stage.
  
  Anyway, this only works on mice.
• Zid wrote on 2010-07-13 05:16

  Quote from Chiri;91528:

  You can't really change a baby's genes. All they can do is just either select the 'straightest' fertilized egg of a bunch or abort it if it's already at that stage.
  
  Anyway, this only works on mice.

  
  
  I know this only works on mice, but somewhere down the line, science will find a similar result in humans.
  
  And paid genetic engineering isn't far fetched either, not when you consider medical and technological advances in the future.
• Phunkie wrote on 2010-07-13 08:23

  Quote from bradstrt;91499:

  I would think that being gay is my choice, not chemicals ._.

  
  
  Body chemicals, as in hormones and stuff like that. lmao
  
  Being gay isn't my choice. It's just the way I feel. And feelings are produced by brain chemicals and all that good stuff.