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Research Finds Not One ‘Gay Gene,’ but a Multitude of Influences.
研究发现，同性恋并不是单个“同性恋基因”，而是多种因素共同作用的结果。
How do genes influence our sexuality?
基因对我们的性取向有何影响？
The question has long been fraught with controversy.
这个问题一直都充满了争议。
An ambitious new study — the largest ever to analyze the genetics of same-sex sexual behavior —
最近，一项宏大的研究——有史以来规模最大的一次分析同性性行为基因成因的研究——
found that genetics does play a role, responsible for perhaps a third of the influence on whether someone has same-sex sex.
发现，基因确实发挥了一定的作用：一个人是否拥有同性恋取向，基因发挥着大约三分之一的作用。
The influence comes not from one gene but many, each with a tiny effect —
但这种作用并不来自某一个基因，而是来自多个基因，每个基因的作用都很小——
and the rest of the explanation includes social or environmental factors —
剩下的还有社会因素和环境因素的影响——
making it impossible to use genes to predict someone’s sexuality.
由此，我们便无法单凭基因来预测一个人的性取向。
Benjamin Neale, a geneticist at the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard and one of the lead researchers on the international team, said
哈佛-麻省理工学院布洛德研究所的遗传学家、该国际团队的带头研究员之一本杰明·尼尔表示，
“I hope that the science can be used to educate people a little bit more about how natural and normal same-sex behavior is,
“我希望能够用科学来帮助人们了解同性恋是非常正常和自然的行为，
It’s written into our genes and it’s part of our environment.
“这种行为已经刻在了我们的基因里，也是我们环境的一部分。
This is part of our species and it’s part of who we are.”
它是我们人类的组成部分，也是我们自身的组成部分。”
The study of nearly half a million people, funded by the National Institutes of Health and other agencies,
这项研究，由美国国立卫生研究院及其他机构联合赞助，对近50万人进行了研究，
found differences in the genetic details of same-sex behavior in men and women.
发现男性和女性在引发同性恋行为的基因细节上存在一定的差异。
The research also suggests the genetics of same-sex sexual behavior
该研究还表明，同性性行为的基因
shares some correlation with genes involved in some mental health issues and personality traits —
与一些涉及心理健康问题和性格特征的基因存在一定的关联——
although the authors said that overlap could simply reflect the stress of enduring societal prejudice.
尽管作者表示这一重叠不过是反映了长期社会偏见带来的压力。
Even before its publication on Thursday in the journal Science, the study has generated debate and concern,
即便是在发表之前——该研究于周四发表于《科学》期刊——该研究就已经引发了辩论和关注，
including within the renowned Broad Institute itself.
著名的布罗德研究所内部就是如此。
Several scientists who are part of the L.G.B.T.Q. community there said they were worried the findings could give ammunition to people
该研究所的几名L.G.B.T.Q.科学家担心，这些发现会为那些
who seek to use science to bolster biases and discrimination against gay people.
试图利用科学进一步巩固对同性恋者的偏见和歧视的人群所用。
One concern is that evidence that genes influence same-sex behavior
例如，他们担心，基因影响同性恋行为的证据
could cause anti-gay activists to call for gene editing or embryo selection,
可能会导致反同性恋权利活动人士呼吁科学家们进行基因编辑或胚胎选择，
even if that would be technically impossible.
尽管这一点在技术上并不能实现。
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