-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000647321007942&rtmo=faDvDvYs&atmo=99999999&p g=/et/00/3/30/wdigit30.html ===== Finger length may indicate tendency to homosexuality By Roger Highfield, Science Editor UK: Telegraph 3/28/00 HOMOSEXUALITY is linked today to the relative length of two fingers on the right hand. Men and women with somewhat shorter index fingers in proportion to their ring fingers are more likely to be gay, claims a report. The findings indicate that sexual orientation is determined in the womb, corroborating earlier research linking genes to sexuality. Finger length is believed to measure exposure to hormones in the womb because male hormones, called androgens, have been linked to both the growth of fingers and genitalia. Prof Marc Breedlove, of the University of California, Berkeley, reports in today's Nature that the ratio between the index (second) finger and the fourth finger is a measure of how much male hormones a mother exposes her unborn child to. The professor, with Dr Terrance Williams and Dr Michelle Pepitone studied the finger lengths of 720 adults attending a street fair in San Francisco. It is already known that women tend to have a smaller difference between their second and fourth fingers than men. From their finger-length patterns, lesbians seem to have been exposed to more male hormones in the womb. Their ratio in finger lengths was smaller, reflecting a more masculine pattern. The differences between heterosexual and homosexual men was less marked and Prof Breedlove concluded that genetic influences were more important among men. However, a link between male homosexuality and male hormone exposure was found by investigating a well-established, but little known, factor predisposing men to homosexuality - having several older brothers. The chances of being homosexual increase by a third for every elder brother, according to an earlier Canadian study by Dr Ray Blanchard, as if every male child leaves behind in his mother's womb a faint memory of his presence. When Prof Breedlove examined the finger ratios among brothers, he found that it became significantly more masculine in men with two or more older brothers than in men with no older brothers. For Prof Breedlove, the most intriguing aspect was that the mother's body "remembers" the number of sons she has carried, and somehow tweaks the development of subsequent sons. Prof Breedlove says a link between homosexuality and higher male hormone levels was a surprise. He said: "I think our culture regards gay men as feminine. But I believe it's time to rethink this assumption that gay men, or even most gay men, are feminine. Perhaps there are some gay men who would be very masculine as well as gay but in our culture they grow up believing that, since they are attracted to men, they should behave in a feminine fashion." 29 April 1999: [Connected] Doubt cast on 'gay gene' 1 November 1995: [UK News] Gay gene linked to men only, says scientist 6 June 1995: 'Gay gene' found in fruit flies 13 December 1994: Fingerprints point to homosexuality New York ballet to star at Edinburgh Festival <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
