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Bragazzi NL, Converti M, Crapanzano A, Zerbetto R, Siri A, Khamisy-Farah R. Probing the genomic landscape of human sexuality: a critical systematic review of the literature. Front Genet 2023; 14:1184758. [PMID: 37693319 PMCID: PMC10483070 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1184758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether human sexuality is the result of nature or nurture (or their complex interplay) represents a hot, often ideologically driven, and highly polarized debate with political and social ramifications, and with varying, conflicting findings reported in the literature. A number of heritability and behavioral genetics studies, including pedigree-based investigations, have hypothesized inheritance patterns of human sexual behaviors. On the other hand, in most twin, adoption, and nuclear family studies, it was not possible to disentangle between underlying genetic and shared environmental sources. Furthermore, these studies were not able to estimate the precise extent of genetic loading and to shed light both on the number and nature of the putative inherited factors, which remained largely unknown. Molecular genetic studies offer an unprecedented opportunity to overcome these drawbacks, by dissecting the molecular basis of human sexuality and allowing a better understanding of its biological roots if any. However, there exists no systematic review of the molecular genetics of human sexuality. Therefore, we undertook this critical systematic review and appraisal of the literature, with the ambitious aims of filling in these gaps of knowledge, especially from the methodological standpoint, and providing guidance to future studies. Sixteen studies were finally retained and overviewed in the present systematic review study. Seven studies were linkage studies, four studies utilized the candidate gene approach, and five studies were GWAS investigations. Limitations of these studies and implications for further research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
- Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair, Health Anthropology Biosphere and Healing Systems, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Crapanzano
- Department of Counseling, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Anna Siri
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair, Health Anthropology Biosphere and Healing Systems, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Rola Khamisy-Farah
- Clalit Health Services, Akko, Israel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
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Jain S, Rana M. Alternative Sexual Orientation in Humans: What Is Known and What Needs to Be Known Further. JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY 2022; 69:1004-1029. [PMID: 33788667 DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2021.1898805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Since the 20th century, multiple studies have linked the variations in human sexual orientation, from heterosexuality to bisexuality or homosexuality, to a wide range of biological factors. However, a clear mechanism that leads to the development of these variations has not been established yet. This review consolidates various comprehensive studies on the possible biological factors in the fields of genetics, epigenetics, uterine environment, hormones, neuroanatomy, and neurobiology that lead to these variations. One intriguing question that 'homosexuality phenotype' faces is its ability to avoid elimination by Darwinian selection. This review tries to explain why natural selection is not eliminating the genetic factors associated with homosexuality even at the cost of the evolutionary fitness of homosexual individuals. Studies supporting certain strong candidates for alternative sexual orientation (ASO) are highlighted, which can become new research avenues for investigators in this field. Further, a novel speculation is proposed that might be contributing to the development of variation in human sexuality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidhant Jain
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Meenakshi Rana
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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Cui J, Pei M, Su Y. Gender-related friend preferences of youths with different sexual orientations: the effects of gender role and sexual attraction. PSYCHOLOGY & SEXUALITY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/19419899.2020.1734066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jingmeng Cui
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Pei
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjie Su
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Li H, Fernández-Guasti A, Xu Y, Swaab D. Retracted: Sexual orientation, neuropsychiatric disorders and the neurotransmitters involved. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:479-488. [PMID: 34597715 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor in Chief of Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews after concerns were raised with respect to the phrasing of comparisons drawn between humans and animal models. These comparisons were deemed unsupportable, and thus in the best interests of publication standards the Editor has concluded it is necessary to retract the paper. The authors disagree with the reason for the retraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haimei Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, PR China; Department of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, 1105 BA, the Netherlands
| | | | - Yi Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, PR China; Zhejiang Engineering Center for Mathematical Mental Health, Hangzhou, 310003, PR China; Brain Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 31003, PR China.
| | - Dick Swaab
- Department of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, 1105 BA, the Netherlands.
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Conscientious objection and LGBTQ discrimination in the United States. J Public Health Policy 2021; 42:322-330. [PMID: 33907303 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-021-00281-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Given recent legal developments in the United States, now is a critical time to draw attention to how 'conscientious objection' is sometimes used by health care providers to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. We review legal developments from 2019 and present several cases where health care providers used conscientious objection in ways that discriminate against the LGBTQ community, resulting in damaged trust by this underserved population. We then discuss two important conceptual points in this debate. The first involves the interpretation of discrimination (provider versus patient-centered views), and we argue for a patient-centered view; the second involves the use of the people versus procedure distinction to reach a compromise between LGBTQ individuals and the clinicians who do not want to treat them. We argue the distinction is problematic when applied to treatment of the LGBTQ population.
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Diaz A, Treviño S, Vázquez-Roque R, Venegas B, Espinosa B, Flores G, Fernández-G JM, Montaño LF, Guevara J. The aminoestrogen prolame increases recognition memory and hippocampal neuronal spine density in aged mice. Synapse 2017; 71:e21987. [PMID: 28545157 DOI: 10.1002/syn.21987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The aging brain shows biochemical and morphological changes in the dendrites of pyramidal neurons from the limbic system associated with memory loss. Prolame (N-(3-hydroxy-1,3,5 (10)-estratrien-17β-yl)-3-hydroxypropylamine) is a non-feminizing aminoestrogen with antithrombotic activity that prevents neuronal deterioration, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of prolame on motor and cognitive processes, as well as its influence on the dendritic morphology of neurons at the CA1, CA3, and granule cells of the dentate gyrus (DG) regions of hippocampus (HP), and medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) of aged mice. Dendritic morphology was assessed with the Golgi-Cox stain procedure followed by Sholl analysis. Prolame (60 µg/kg) was subcutaneously injected daily for 60 days in 18-month-old mice. Immediately after treatment, locomotor activity in a new environment and recognition memory using the Novel Object Recognition Task (NORT) were evaluated. Prolame-treated mice showed a significant increase in the long-term exploration quotient, but locomotor activity was not modified in comparison to control animals. Prolame-treated mice showed a significant increase in dendritic spines density and dendritic length in neurons of the CA1, CA3, and DG regions of the HP, whereas dendrites of neurons in the NAcc remained unmodified. In conclusion, prolame administration promotes hippocampal plasticity processes but not in the NAcc neurons of aged mice, thus improving long-term recognition memory. Prolame could become a pharmacological alternative to prevent or delay the brain aging process, and thus the emergence of neurodegenerative diseases that affect memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Diaz
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Pue, Mexico
| | - Samuel Treviño
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Pue, Mexico
| | - Rubén Vázquez-Roque
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Pue, Mexico
| | - Berenice Venegas
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Pue, Mexico
| | - Blanca Espinosa
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias INER, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo Flores
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Pue, Mexico
| | | | - Luis F Montaño
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Jorge Guevara
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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