By altering a gene in the brain of a female worm, scientists were able to change its sexual orientation so
that it was attracted to other females. Scientists activated the gene that makes male structures develop in the body, but only turned it on in the brain.
The result was worms that “look like girls, but act and think like boys,” according to Jamie White, a researcher on the study.
The study supports the idea that sexual orientation is the result of the brain’s wiring. Erik Jorgensen, scientific director of the Brain Institute at the University of Utah, said the study “suggests sexual behavior is encoded in our genes.”
Not everyone agrees with Jorgensen, and even he admits the study is not likely to fully explain human sexual orientation. Though worms and humans share much of the same dna, the complexity of the human brain means the study couldn’t possibly answer all the questions on our sexuality.
The origins of human sexual orientation have yet to be adequately explained. Scientists argue theories from hormones and genetics to environment.
译文:
科学家创造夏娃和夏娃
科学家在雌性蠕虫的大脑中变异了一个基因，以此改变它的性取向，让其与同性相吸。他们仅仅是在大脑中激活了控制身体中雄性结构发展的基因。
研究人员Jamie White透露，结果蠕虫“有了夏娃的外表和亚当的内在”。
研究证实了大脑的结构决定着性取向。犹他州大学大脑研究所的科研负责人Erik Jorgensen称，这次实验“表明性行为隐藏在基因中。”
并非所有人都认同Jorgensen的观点，他本人也承认研究不可能完全解释人类的性取向。尽管蠕虫和人类的DNA中有很多相同之处，但是人类大脑的复杂性意味着研究无法解答我们对性的疑惑。
人类性取向的本原还未澄清。，从激素、遗传到环境理论，科学家们各执一词。