The Science of Desire: The Search for the Gay Gene and the Biology of Behavior » (Reissue)

In July 1993, a scientific event made front-page news: the discovery that genetics plays a significant role in determining homosexuality. In The Science of Desire, Dean Hamer -- the scientist behind the groundbreaking study -- tells the inside story of how the discovery was made and what it means, not only for our understanding of sexuality, but for human behavior in general.

In this accessible and remarkably clear book, Dean Hamer expands on the account of his history-making research to explore the scientific, social, and ethical issues raised by his findings. Dr. Hamer addresses such tough questions as whether it would be possible or ethical to test in utero for the gay gene; whether genetic manipulation could or should be used to alter a person's sexuality; and how a gay gene could have survived evolution.

A compelling behind-the-scenes look at cutting-edge scientific inquiry, as well as a brilliant examination of the ramifications of genetic research, The Science of Desire is a lasting resource in the increasingly significant debate over the role that genetics plays in our lives.

Publishers Weekly

In this admirably lucid and surprisingly lively book, Hamer, chief of genetic research at the National Cancer Institute, assisted by Copeland, a correspondent for the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain, recounts his discovery of a pattern on the X chromosome that, in families with two gay brothers, 33 out of 40 such pairs share. He was thus able to link sexual orientation with genetic makeup. This discovery is all the more noteworthy when we consider, as Hamer points out, ``the scientific literature contains more articles on the genetics of eye color in fruit flies than on the biology of human sexuality.'' He is careful to explain that genetic predisposition alone does not ``cause'' homosexuality; environmental factors must also be taken into account, and a complete picture of the genesis of homosexuality is still far in the future. Hamer simplifies complex ideas for general readers (the structure of interlocking strands of DNA is described as ``chemical Velcro'') and explores the ethical implications of a ``gay gene'' with laudable compassion and common sense. (Oct.)