Nature Vs Nurture

There has been an ongoing debate between how human behavior is shaped, learned and acquired. Some say that behavior results from nature, or one’s own genes, while others say that behavior results from nurture, or the environment. People are aware that both nature and nurture influence how humans live and think but exactly how much of human traits are determined by either nature and nurture remains unknown. Scientists may seem more engaged in the nature theory because of the biology and chemistry involved. This in turn leads to further research in the nature field. On the other hand, psychologists research about the effects of nurture, furthering research in that category. The most notable of these researches has been sexuality, it has caused …show more content…
Although sexual orientation ranges along a continuum, it is generally discussed in terms of heterosexual (attraction to the other sex) homosexual (attraction to the same sex) and bisexual (attraction to both sexes). Sexual orientation has not been conclusively found to be determined by any particular factor or factors, and the timing of the emergence, recognition and expression of one’s sexual orientation varies among …show more content…
One specific research that has been ongoing for more than 20 years that supports the statement that sexuality is in fact genetic is ‘the gay gene’. More than 20 years ago, Dean Hamer, who is a molecular biologist, offered the first evidence of a gay gene by identifying a stretch on the X chromosome likely associated with homosexuality. This study caused both scientific and cultural controversy but studies continued although many doubted Hamer’s results, due to lack of solid evidence. In November of this year though, J. Michael Bailey, a psychologist at North-western University produced more evidence when he performed genetic linkage analysis on 409 pairs of gay brothers compared to Hamer’s research which took place with just 38 pairs of gay brothers. The analysis searches family members for genetic markers consistently inherited by people with a common trait. The results revealed markers linked to homosexuality on both Xq28 and a region of chromosome 8, similarly to the findings of Dean Hamer. Bailey also stated that “Sexual orientation has nothing to do with choice. Our findings suggest there may be genes at play – we found evidence for two sets that affect whether a man is gay or straight”. Also a King’s College London psychologist, Qazi Rhaman, said that genes account to 40 percent of a person’s sexual orientation, and it is

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