Language
Country/Area
No result found
Secrets of Fetal Development: How Pregnancy Hormones Affect Future Sexual Orientation?
The biological relationship to sexual orientation has been the subject of ongoing research. Scientists are still unsure about the exact causes of sexual orientation, but they speculate that it is due to a complex interaction of genetics, hormones and environmental influences. Although there are many different views, the support for biological theories seems to be more solid, especially on the origin of male sexual orientation, and the evidence for the influence of acquired social environment is relatively weak.
Scientific research and research discoveries
Fetal Development and Hormones
Hormones have profound effects on the developing fetus and are one of the strongest hypotheses to explain the development of sexual orientation. During this process, the fetal brain initially develops in a "female" state. The most critical regions include INAH3 (anterior triventricular nucleus) and bedside longitudinal nucleus (BSTc), and the developmental properties of these regions are often dependent on hormone levels. If the fetus receives enough testosterone after 12 weeks, it will promote the growth of INAH3, which helps guide male sexual behavior, especially attracting women.
If INAH3 does not receive enough testosterone and is suppressed by estrogen, it may cause it to take on female characteristics, which may lead to homosexual tendencies.
Research shows that broadly gay men may have higher INAH3 cell densities than heterosexual men, even though the overall number of neurons is similar. This suggests that these men may have been exposed to lower testosterone levels during fetal life or were differentially sensitive to its masculinizing effects.
Maternal immune response
Research shows that as the number of sons a woman gives birth to increases, the chance that subsequent sons will be same-sex attracted increases. During pregnancy, cells from the male fetus enter the mother's blood circulation, which triggers an immune response in the mother. Subsequent antibodies may interfere with the sexualization of the brain of the future male fetus, causing it to appear feminine in terms of sexual attraction. Default state.
Antibody levels in the mother increased with each additional son, explaining what was previously known as the sibling birth order effect.
Genetic influence
Several recent studies have pointed out that genetic factors may also play an important role in the formation of sexual orientation. Twin studies have shown that identical twins are more consistent in their orientation towards same-sex or non-opposite-sex orientations, which may prove the influence of genes in this regard. However, the so-called environmental factors are not equivalent to social factors. Environmental influences also include non-social parts, such as influences during fetal development, which still needs further exploration.
If identical twins are more consistent in their sexual orientation, this may mean that the influence of genes on sexual orientation cannot be ignored.
Gene link research
Gene linkage research shows that certain regions on the X chromosome may be significantly related to male sexual orientation. In 1993, Dean Hamer and others published research showing that men with homosexual tendencies have more homosexual relatives in their maternal families, which sparked widespread discussion about the so-called "gay gene."
In addition, research on sexual orientation also extends to animal model systems, and these studies help people understand the connection between biology and sexual behavior.
Conclusion
In future research, scientists will not only need to explore biological processes during fetal development, but also consider the complex interactions between neurobiology, genes, and the environment. Finally, will we understand the deeper mysteries behind sexual orientation?
