Male Homosexuality: Absence of Linkage to Microsatellite Markers at Xq28

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 284; no. 5414; pp. 665 - 667
• Main Authors: Rice, George, Anderson, Carol, Risch, Neil, Ebers, George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 23.04.1999; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Alleles; Biological and medical sciences; Brothers; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Evaluators; Family (Sociological Unit); Followup Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gay men; Gays & lesbians; Genetic aspects; Genetic factors; Genetic Linkage; Genetics; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Genotype; Haplotypes; Heterozygote; Homosexuality; Homosexuality, Male - genetics; Human; Humans; Interviews; LGBT; Lod score; Male; Male homosexuality; Males; Microsatellite Repeats; Nuclear Family; Observation; Sexual Orientation; Siblings; Subject indexing; X Chromosome - genetics; X linked genes; Canada; Genetic mapping; Human; Homosexuality; Linkage; Genetic marker; Family study; Microsatellite DNA; Sexual behavior; Male; X-Chromosome; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.284.5414.665

Several lines of evidence have implicated genetic factors in homosexuality. The most compelling observation has been the report of genetic linkage of male homosexuality to microsatellite markers on the X chromosome. This observation warranted further study and confirmation. Sharing of alleles at position Xq28 was studied in 52 gay male sibling pairs from Canadian families. Four markers at Xq28 were analyzed (DXS1113, BGN, Factor 8, and DXS1108). Allele and haplotype sharing for these markers was not increased over expectation. These results do not support an X-linked gene underlying male homosexuality.