Olders Brothers Raise A Male's Chance Of Being Gay

[mzteris]

A male is more likely to be gay if he has an older brother, the likelihood grows the more older brothers he has. The percentage of gay males is estimated to be around 3%, this probability can go up to 5% for males with several older brothers, say researchers from Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada.

The researchers are certain there is a biological basis for sexual orientation - in other words, there is a prenatal effect. It is not a case of older brothers having a psychological effect on the male baby after it is born. Males with older stepbrothers, or adopted brothers, are not more likely to be gay, only males with blood brothers. The scientists say the effect has to be through the mother, the only link between them.

You can read about this study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Previous studies have shown a link between male homosexuality and the number of older brothers. This study is the first one to factor out social and environmental effects.


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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=45962

[racaulk]

1. I've heard about this.

I think I read something brief about this in an issue of Men's Health a few years back. A good friend of mine is the fourth of five children in his family, all boys. Both he and his younger brother are gay. I guess there may be something to that...

[sdfernando]

2. I'm in this grouping

I'm the last of five children. Two older brothers, both straight.

I tell people that my Mother had five children; 3 boys and 3 girls.

[mzteris]

3. I'ma wondering

if this will give the "let's have as many children as *god* gives us* people a bit of a pause....

Have you heard of the "full quiver" people? They have as many "arrows" as they can for the "Army of God". Well, some arrows are just never straight, doncha know...

[William769]

4. I have an older sister and four older brothers.

So this is why I am Gay? :shrug:

[sui generis]

5. well clearly we should ban

older brothers.

However as a firstborn I'll give anyone noogies who tries.

:P

[Finder]

6. I disagree with this study...in a sense.

I think the gender indoctrination is less in younger males in a family than the first born or second born.

In addition, I think most of us are born bisexual by nature and preference is more nurture or environment.