Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Preconceptual programming and sexual orientation: a hypothesis

I Pollard1

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Journal of Theoretical Biology
|April 7, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects of caffeine and its reactive metabolites theophylline and theobromine on the differentiating testis.

Reproduction, fertility, and development·2002
Same author

Substance abuse and parenthood: biological mechanisms--bioethical challenges.

Women & health·2000
Same author

Maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy does not affect preimplantation development but delays early postimplantation growth in rat embryos.

Reproduction, fertility, and development·2000
Same author

Effects of preconceptual caffeine exposure on pregnancy and progeny viability.

The Journal of maternal-fetal medicine·1999
Same author

The circulating concentrations of FSH, LH and prolactin in the oestradiol-implanted ovariectomized ewe treated with caffeine.

Animal reproduction science·1997
Same author

Preconceptual caffeine exposure increases glucose utilization and accelerates development in the preimplantation rat embryo.

The Journal of maternal-fetal medicine·1996
Same journal

The male-biased sex ratio in humans and its role in the transition from promiscuity to pair bonding.

Journal of theoretical biology·2026
Same journal

Quantifying the counter-intuitive effects of vaccination by coupling the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 and the evolution of human behaviors.

Journal of theoretical biology·2026
Same journal

An integrative model of FGF2-induced signaling and muscle cell proliferation.

Journal of theoretical biology·2026
Same journal

A hybrid reaction-diffusion and mechanical stimulus model for mandibular bone remodeling under chewing and vibratory loading.

Journal of theoretical biology·2026
Same journal

Integrated tick management strategies in fragmented peridomestic environments.

Journal of theoretical biology·2026
Same journal

Joint likelihood-free inference of the number of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms and their selection coefficients in an evolving population.

Journal of theoretical biology·2026
See all related articles

This study proposes sexual orientation arises from adaptive programming before conception, not just genes or prenatal hormones. Genomic imprinting may explain the spectrum of human sexuality from asexual to homosexual orientations.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Traditional biological explanations for sexual orientation focus on genes and prenatal hormones.
  • These models face criticism for implying developmental anomalies in healthy populations.
  • A new perspective is needed to explain the continuum of human sexuality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge traditional viewpoints on sexual orientation etiology.
  • To propose a novel hypothesis for the foundation of adult sexual orientation.
  • To explore the role of adaptive programming before conception.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a new hypothesis based on preconceptual marking.
  • Inclusion of genomic imprinting as a key molecular mechanism.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Description of physiological aspects and circumstantial evidence.

    • Main Results:

    • Hypothesizes sexual orientation originates from adaptive programming before conception.
    • Suggests male and female-mediated preconceptual marking shapes sexuality.
    • Proposes genomic imprinting leads to a continuum of orientations (asexual to homosexual).

    Conclusions:

    • Sexual orientation may be an adaptive trait programmed before conception.
    • Genomic imprinting offers a mechanism for the observed spectrum of sexual orientations.
    • This hypothesis provides a biologically significant, adaptive explanation for generational preparedness.