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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobi (Post 716022)

Epigenetics is a fascinating field of study in evolution.

As to the phenomemon of queerness, they are postulating that:

~ sex-specific epi-marks passed from father to daughter or mother to son could cause homosexuality

~genes hold the instructions, epi-marks direct how those instructions are carried out – when, where and how much a gene is expressed during development. Epi-marks are usually produced anew each generation, but recent evidence demonstrates that they sometimes carry over between generations

~this usually happens in response to spikes in testosterone — sex-specific epi-marks formed in early fetal development activate to protect the fetus from the testosterone surge. Otherwise, the high testosterone could cause female fetuses to ‘masculinze’ or vice versa for male fetuses.

~different epi-marks protect different sex traits from being masculinized or feminized, some affect the genitals, others affect sexual identity and others affect sexual preference. But when epi-marks are transmitted from fathers to daughters or mothers to sons, they may cause reversed effects, such as the feminization of some traits in sons, such as sexual preference, and similarly a partial masculinization of daughters.

~the transmission of sex-specific epi-marks between generations is the most plausible evolutionary mechanism of the phenomenon of human homosexuality

Theories are only as good as the thoughts behind them, and how those thoughts influence conclusions.

Seems to me, the thought behind this science is deeply rooted in stereotypical assumptions about queers i.e. gay females are masculinized and gay males are feminized.

The science could also be said to be steeped in the patriarchy. It is all testosterone based. Lord knows we have all been taught and socialized to believe ALL revolves around testosterone. Now, they are just looking for the bio-genetic proof.

On the other hand, as a feminist, it was also intriguing to see a defective testosterone process being targeted as the causal factor in this process :cheesy:

However, I am sure it is just a matter of time before it will all link back to Adam, Eve, and that freakin apple.

when i listened to the news story, that (in red) is what stood out to me also. complete lack of explanation for those of us who, depending on identity, show no signs of being more or less masculinized or feminized. i'm getting really tired of the stereotyping.

and it's not Adam and Eve and the apple i'm worried about. it's the extremists who will now start looking for the gene they want to weed out in order to have straight kids. i've already heard one "see, homosexuality is a birth defect" story that resulted from this research. next thing you know, fundamentalists everywhere will start swamping abortion clinics when they find out their baby carries the "gay gene".

wait. fundamentalists. abortion clinics? :thud:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomad (Post 716583)

I hear you. The problem gets to be, as usual, people dont understand the "science". But, they use their misunderstanding to support a position.

From my understanding, this is a theory not a proven fact. And it is not a gene per se but the epi marker that determines how a gene is expressed. And they are postulating that the epi marker when over exposed or underexposed to testosterone may influence sexual orientation. Thats a boatload of maybes.

Even the scientists say "it is the most plausible explanation". Thats not fact, but scientific conjecture.

Do fundamentalists believe in abortion?

Another shooting...

http://www.courant.com/news/breaking...,3969911.story

Please respond with updates when you have them. Thank you.

27 People Dead, Mostly Children, at Connecticut Elementary School Shooting

More than two dozen people, mostly elementary school children, were shot and killed at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school this morning, federal and state sources tell ABC News.

The massacre involved two gunmen and prompted the town of Newtown to lock down all of its schools and draw SWAT teams to the school, authorities said today.

One shooter is dead and a manhunt is on for a second gunman. Police are searching cars. One shooter was described as a 24-year-old armed with four weapons and wearing a bullet vest, sources told ABC News.

It's unclear how many people have been shot, but 25 people, mostly children are dead, multiple federal and state sources tell ABC News. That number could rise, officials said.

Today's shooting occurred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, which includes 450 students in grades from kindergarten through fourth grade. The town is located about 12 miles east of Danbury.

http://gma.yahoo.com/breaking-conn-s...opstories.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobi (Post 716724)

This makes every problem I have seem so insignificant....I just can't wrap my head around folks shooting babies! :candle:Sending prayers and healing to all of the families.

From our President

It's a sad day and a sad world we live when our schools have to partake in regular drills on what to do if somebody enters the school armed with guns and starts shooting .
That's all I have to say about this .

I can't imagine the grief in that little town in Connecticut tonight.

Dear Father, We have gathered as a community,
not because
we wanted to, but because we felt compelled to;
because we couldn't not be here––for one another,
for the families of the victims
We gather as citizens who love our God
and who love the good land God has given us;
who cherish the freedoms we enjoy,
and who lament our innocence lost.
With anger we come, and with sorrow;
with confusion and concern.
Our spirits boil with emotion;
our minds are ajumble with nagging implications.
We come
to pray,
to listen,
to speak to God and to one another;
to lament our losses
and lift up our wounded hearts for healing. ♥♥♥

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/14/world/...ack/index.html

Beijing (CNN) - Twenty-two primary school children were wounded in a knife attack Friday in central China, authorities said.

The attack took place at the entrance to the Chenpeng Village Primary School in Henan province, according to the public information department of Guangshan county, the area where the school is located. An adult was also wounded, it said.

Several of the children are in critical condition, the state-run website Chinanews.com said, citing local authorities.

Police say they have detained a suspect, a 36-year-old man from the village, state media reported.

Initial assessments suggest the man is mentally ill, Chinanews.com said, citing Guangshan authorities.

China was hit by a spate of knife and cleaver attacks that targeted school children in 2010.

A number of measures were introduced at the time, including increased security at schools across the country and a regulation requiring people to register with their national ID cards when buying large knives.

CNN's Shao Tian in Beijing and journalist Pan Xinlei in Hong Kong contributed to this report.

A family from here in my city of Winnipeg moved to that town in Connecticut not long ago; the man and his wife had a son and daughter ......... apparently his daughter was one of the ones who were killed :(

I have been wondering why no one is talking about how the guy got into the school. They had a buzzer and a monitor. I heard he pushed his way in. Does anyone know how?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okiebug61 (Post 717080)

I have been wondering why no one is talking about how the guy got into the school. They had a buzzer and a monitor. I heard he pushed his way in. Does anyone know how?

I've been wondering that too. I haven't seen the Times today.

His mother was either a former teacher or a volunteer at the school. They might have just "known" him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IslandScout (Post 717083)

I've been wondering that too. I haven't seen the Times today.

His mother was either a former teacher or a volunteer at the school. They might have just "known" him.

I imagine they are looking over the evidence to see why he was let in. I would think they want to make sure the person who is responsible for this followed the procedures. I can't imagine being the person who let him in and how they must feel.

In my Ontario, Canada city (and high school I work at), one can just walk in the front door to a school. People come in and out and report to the main office--parents dropping off things, late arriving students or returning from appointments, office deliveries, supply teachers coming in etc. It's odd (and sad) to think of my entire school locked up during the day. No one buzzes people in or anything like that.

USA schools are all locked up during the day?

Each school set up will be unique to the building. Some have a double set of doors scenario. Where you can go in the first set of doors and then be buzzed through the 2nd after checking in. You can push your way in if others are entering/exiting at the same time. Especially at a high transition time like the morning.

And for Soon.... yes all outside doors are locked during the day. Only one set of doors is open where folks can be buzzed in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okiebug61 (Post 717080)

I have been wondering why no one is talking about how the guy got into the school. They had a buzzer and a monitor. I heard he pushed his way in. Does anyone know how?

they are now saying he shot the gun thru a window. he was not buzzed in. his mother was not a teacher at the school. and.... it was not the oldest of the 2 boys it was the younger one.

again who really knows?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soon (Post 717089)

Canada is a type of country i wish we had. Seriously. i practically grew up in Crystal Beach, hell it was about a 40 minute ride from home. we spent holidays and summers there.

i honestly wish we were more like Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPS (Post 717131)

Ok thanks for the update!

to think that most if not all the schools in the near future will be monitored like a Fort Knox. Seems this country has plenty of money AFTER a tragedy ala 9/11 but when it comes to preventive care, the far right politicians turn a blind eye.

This will get worse before it improves. What exactly will it take for many politicians to get on board with sane gun laws and stop the NRA cult from spitting all over us. Their 2nd amendment rights DO NOT supercede my right, your right to live a peaceful and safe existence.

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