What Are Biological Factors Influence Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity?

What determines the sexual orientation or gender identity of a person? The answer to this question is generally complex. Before discussing this subject further, we must define and distinguish the difference between these terms. Sex is the biological distinction between males and females marked by genitalia, and sexual orientation is a preference of romantic partners based on attraction. Gender is a social construct designed to use behaviors and characteristics to define individuals as men and women. Gender identity is a person’s sense of self in relation to their gender. As society becomes more informed and open-minded, the biological interest and research in sex and gender also become increasingly more relevant in science. Specifically, the University of California, Los Angeles, is studying and highlighting the biological aspects of sex and gender. The director of the …show more content…
Biological origins in sexual orientation have been discovered through studies about twins. The genetic linkages in the twin studies have shown both hereditary patterns in homosexuality and genes in certain parts of the genome. Researchers are currently examining efforts to understand the role biology plays, from a biological perspective, in gender identity. Dr. Vilain says that most significant approach to understanding gender identity includes the study genetics and the environment, incorporating the effects of environmental factors on gene expression. Recently, his lab found a connection between hormone exposure in early life and long-term sexual development. In the experiment, female mice exposed to high levels of testosterone at birth later exhibited increased masculine gene-expression patterns. Dr. Vilain and his team are observing the location of these genes to find out which regions of the genome may influence gender expression and possibly gender