U.S. study of gay sheep may shed light on sexuality
{{date|August 15, 2005}}

[[Image:Toscana Schafe.jpg|thumb|360px|File photo of sheep.]]
[[w:Oregon State University|Oregon State University]] (OSU) animal researchers in conjunction with the U.S. [[w:Department of Agriculture|Department of Agriculture]]'s (USDA) [[w:Dubois, Idaho|Dubois, Idaho]]-based [[w:Sheep|Sheep]] Experiment Station released a report on an OSU-USDA study which was initiated in 1995 after breeders asked the government to determine why some rams bought as breeding studs showed no interest in females. The researchers are working under a $2.8 million grant from the [[w:National Institutes of Health|National Institutes of Health]] in hopes of developing a test which can determine the likelihood of a ram being female-oriented before it is sold as a stud.

By studying difference in the animal's brains after slaughter, the study also showed what could be a biological determiner for what makes a ram male-oriented instead of female-oriented sexually. The scientists' results showed that the anterior preoptic area of the rams' [[w:hypothalamus|hypothalamus]] was 50 percent smaller in male-oriented rams as opposed to female oriented rams. A 1991 study of human brains of [[w:AIDS|AIDS]] victims showed a similar hypothalamus size difference between gay and heterosexual men.

The sheep researchers postulate that low levels of [[w:aromatase|aromatase]] hormones in the brain of a developing male sheep fetus may have kept the brain from fully masculinizing, leading to sexually male-oriented rams.

"This lends further support to the idea that homosexuality has biological underpinnings," Charles Roselli, a professor of physiology and pharmacology, said in an interview with the ''Corvallis Gazette-Times''.

Professor Stormshak believes that "understanding sexual drives and the continuum of sexual behavior could possibly help explain the scientific basis of sexual assault [and] put an end to assertions that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice."

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.gfn.com/features/story.php?sid=17301
|title=Gay Rams Studied, May Help Explain Human Sexuality
|author=
|pub=GFN
|date=August 15, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2005/08/12/news/community/fri02.txt
|title=The science of rams and sexuality: Not all seek ewes
|author=Mary Ann Albright 
|pub=Corvallis Gazette-Times
|date=August 15, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.eastoregonian.info/Main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=206&ArticleID=42596
|title=OSU Sheep study could help explain human sexuality
|author=Kathy Aney
|pub=Associated Press
|date=August 13, 2005}}

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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:LGBT]]
[[Category:Oregon]]
[[Category:National Institutes of Health]]
[[Category:Anthropology]]
File photo of sheep.
Oregon State University (OSU) animal researchers in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Dubois, Idaho-based Sheep Experiment Station released a report on an OSU-USDA study which was initiated in 1995 after breeders asked the government to determine why some rams bought as breeding studs showed no interest in females. The researchers are working under a $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health in hopes of developing a test which can determine the likelihood of a ram being female-oriented before it is sold as a stud.

By studying difference in the animal's brains after slaughter, the study also showed what could be a biological determiner for what makes a ram male-oriented instead of female-oriented sexually. The scientists' results showed that the anterior preoptic area of the rams' hypothalamus was 50 percent smaller in male-oriented rams as opposed to female oriented rams. A 1991 study of human brains of AIDS victims showed a similar hypothalamus size difference between gay and heterosexual men.

The sheep researchers postulate that low levels of aromatase hormones in the brain of a developing male sheep fetus may have kept the brain from fully masculinizing, leading to sexually male-oriented rams.

"This lends further support to the idea that homosexuality has biological underpinnings," Charles Roselli, a professor of physiology and pharmacology, said in an interview with the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

Professor Stormshak believes that "understanding sexual drives and the continuum of sexual behavior could possibly help explain the scientific basis of sexual assault and put an end to assertions that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice."

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North America United States Science and technology LGBT Oregon National Institutes of Health Anthropology