Genome-Wide Association Study of Male Sexual Orientation.

ABSTRACT: Family and twin studies suggest that genes play a role in male sexual orientation. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of male sexual orientation on a primarily European ancestry sample of 1,077 homosexual men and 1,231 heterosexual men using Affymetrix single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. We identified several SNPs with p < 10^-5, including regions of multiple supporting SNPs on chromosomes 13 (minimum p = 7.5 × 10^-7) and 14 (p = 4.7 × 10^-7). The genes nearest to these peaks have functions plausibly relevant to the development of sexual orientation. On chromosome 13, SLITRK6 is a neurodevelopmental gene mostly expressed in the diencephalon, which contains a region previously reported as differing in size in men by sexual orientation.

SUBMITTER: Sanders AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5721098 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature