Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Homosexual On-Off Switch Discovered

Homosexual On-Off Switch Discovered: "Homosexual On-Off Switch Discovered University of Illinois researchers have discovered a neurotransmitter drug therapy that, in homosexual mutant fruit flies, can change sexual orientation within hours of administration by altering how the flies perceive pheromones. Based on work on “Genderblind” (GB) fly mutants, the researchers found that BG males no longer perceive male pheromones as repulsive and would attempt to mate with other males. They reasoned that this response had a basis in neurotransmitter levels. They discovered that orientation is related to synapse strength, how strongly nerve cells respond to electrical impulses, and that by altering neurotransmitter levels in the synapses they were able to switch which gender pathway the flies would use."
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