Comments on: Is preventing homosexuality through drugs ethical? http://www.interestingthings.org/preventing-homosexuality-through-drugs/2007/12/10/ Inquiring minds want to know. Science news and inane commentary. Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:45:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Mark http://www.interestingthings.org/preventing-homosexuality-through-drugs/2007/12/10/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Mark Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:25:35 +0000 http://www.interestingthings.org/preventing-homosexuality-through-drugs/2007/12/10/#comment-6 First of all, what an interesting discovery! I worked with fruit flies in my genetics class, and it is incredible how we have figured out so much of their genetics. But in response to this: "With this being proved in insects, it is probably only a matter of time before similar discoveries are made for humans, though it is likely to be a far more complex combination of genes, and that will open up a whole can of ethical worms." Just because they are flies and we are humans doesn't mean our DNA is that much more complex. "About 61% of known human disease genes have a recognizable match in the genetic code of fruit flies, and 50% of fly protein sequences have mammalian analogues." -Sharmila Bhattacharya of NASA's Ames Research Center. And as far as ethics is concerned, it is a troubling notion that homosexuals would be pressured to "cure" their orientation as if it were a disease. Realistically, however, a pill which could make you straight probably will never exist. Complications and side-effects aside, homosexuality likely involves a complex set of genes as well as social factors-stuff pills can't control. But who knows? It would be interesting to know how many people would want such drugs if they were available. The atom bomb probably another ill-advised application of science. There are tons of examples. But for better or for worse, you can't stop science. First of all, what an interesting discovery! I worked with fruit flies in my genetics class, and it is incredible how we have figured out so much of their genetics.

But in response to this: “With this being proved in insects, it is probably only a matter of time before similar discoveries are made for humans, though it is likely to be a far more complex combination of genes, and that will open up a whole can of ethical worms.”

Just because they are flies and we are humans doesn’t mean our DNA is that much more complex. “About 61% of known human disease genes have a recognizable match in the genetic code of fruit flies, and 50% of fly protein sequences have mammalian analogues.” -Sharmila Bhattacharya of NASA’s Ames Research Center.

And as far as ethics is concerned, it is a troubling notion that homosexuals would be pressured to “cure” their orientation as if it were a disease. Realistically, however, a pill which could make you straight probably will never exist. Complications and side-effects aside, homosexuality likely involves a complex set of genes as well as social factors-stuff pills can’t control.

But who knows? It would be interesting to know how many people would want such drugs if they were available.

The atom bomb probably another ill-advised application of science. There are tons of examples. But for better or for worse, you can’t stop science.

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