Sexuality Is Biological, Mostly Non‑Genetic

Updated: 2026.09.09 25D ago 2 sources
Sexual orientation appears to be rooted in biological development (prenatal environment, epigenetics, neurodevelopmental processes) rather than in stable, high‑penetrance genes. This reframes common nature‑versus‑nurture language: ‘biological’ does not imply ‘genetic’, and many population‑level patterns may reflect developmental perturbations rather than heritable alleles. — If orientation is biological but non‑genetic, it changes how policymakers, physicians, ethicists, and activists argue about identity, discrimination protections, embryo selection, and interventions aimed at 'preventing' or 'treating' non‑heterosexuality.

Sources

What Everyone Gets Wrong About Sex Differences
Steve Stewart-Williams 2026.09.09 55% relevant
The article/podcast advertises discussion of the 'evolutionary mystery of homosexuality', which connects to debates captured by this idea about the biological (but complex, non‑deterministic) bases of sexual orientation and how that shapes public discourse on rights and health policy.
An Evolutionary Enigma
Steve Stewart-Williams 2026.05.13 100% relevant
Steve Stewart‑Williams' essay (May 13, 2026) asserts the best current evidence points to a biological but largely non‑genetic basis for same‑sex orientation and cites contemporary scientific literature (e.g., Felesina & Zietsch 2025) as background.
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