Genome-wide scan demonstrates significant linkage for male sexual orientation.
BACKGROUND
Findings from family and twin studies support a genetic contribution to the development of sexual orientation in men. However, previous studies have yielded conflicting evidence for linkage to chromosome Xq28.


METHODS
We conducted a genome-wide linkage scan on 409 independent pairs of homosexual brothers (908 analyzed individuals in 384 families), by far the largest study of its kind to date.


RESULTS
We identified two regions of linkage: the pericentromeric region on chromosome 8 (maximum two-point LOD = 4.08, maximum multipoint LOD = 2.59), which overlaps with the second strongest region from a previous separate linkage scan of 155 brother pairs; and Xq28 (maximum two-point LOD = 2.99, maximum multipoint LOD = 2.76), which was also implicated in prior research.


CONCLUSIONS
Results, especially in the context of past studies, support the existence of genes on pericentromeric chromosome 8 and chromosome Xq28 influencing development of male sexual orientation.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute,Evanston,IL,USA.
A R
AR
Sanders
Department of Human Genetics,University of Miami,Miami,FL,USA.
E R
ER
Martin
Department of Human Genetics,University of Miami,Miami,FL,USA.
G W
GW
Beecham
Department of Human Genetics,University of Miami,Miami,FL,USA.
S
S
Guo
Department of Psychology,Pennsylvania State University,University Park,PA,USA.
K
K
Dawood
Department of Psychology,University of Essex,Colchester,England,UK.
G
G
Rieger
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience,University of Chicago,Chicago,IL,USA.
J A
JA
Badner
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience,University of Chicago,Chicago,IL,USA.
E S
ES
Gershon
Department of Psychiatry,Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai,Elmhurst,NY,USA.
R S
RS
Krishnappa
Department of Sociomedical Sciences,Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University,New York,NY,USA.
A B
AB
Kolundzija
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute,Evanston,IL,USA.
J
J
Duan
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute,Evanston,IL,USA.
P V
PV
Gejman
Department of Psychology,Northwestern University,Evanston,IL,USA.
J M
JM
Bailey
D000328:Adult; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 / Q000235:genetics*; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000235:genetics*; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035781:Siblings; D014481:United States
male sexual orientation.