December 31, 2006
— Ace Special rights for gay sheep. Who will speak for the straight sheep? Apparently you can still molest them 'til your heart's content.
Actually it's about experiments to "cure" gay sheep of teh gheyitude.
SCIENTISTS are conducting experiments to change the sexuality of gay sheep in a programme that critics fear could pave the way for breeding out homosexuality in humans.The technique being developed by American researchers adjusts the hormonal balance in the brains of homosexual rams so that they are more inclined to mate with ewes.
It raises the prospect that pregnant women could one day be offered a treatment to reduce or eliminate the chance that their offspring will be homosexual. Experts say that, in theory, the straightening procedure on humans could be as simple as a hormone supplement for mothers-to-be, worn on the skin like an anti-smoking nicotine patch.
The research, at Oregon State University in the city of Corvallis and at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, has caused an outcry. Martina Navratilova, the lesbian tennis player who won Wimbledon nine times, and scientists and gay rights campaigners in Britain have called for the project to be abandoned.
Navratilova defended the right of sheep to be gay. She said: How can it be that in the year 2006 a major university would host such homophobic and cruel experiments? She said gay men and lesbians would be deeply offended by the social implications of the tests.
But the researchers argue that the work is valid, shedding light on the broad question of what determines sexual orientation. They insist the work is not aimed at curing homosexuality.
..
The scientists have been able to pinpoint the mechanisms influencing the desires of male-oriented rams by studying their brains. The animals skulls are cut open and electronic sensors are attached to their brains.
By varying the hormone levels, mainly by injecting hormones into the brain, they have had considerable success in altering the rams sexuality, with some previously gay animals becoming attracted to ewes.
Posted by: Ace at
02:05 PM
| Comments (26)
Post contains 358 words, total size 2 kb.
Should have just filled them up with Val-U-Rite vodka. Those ewes start to look pretty good after the first half gallon.
Posted by: adolfo_velasquez at December 31, 2006 02:16 PM (RlAvU)
Apparently, it's a real pain to get mousse out of wool.
Posted by: cirby at December 31, 2006 02:16 PM (ZMgaW)
Posted by: eman at December 31, 2006 02:17 PM (FWrFx)
Posted by: Tushar D at December 31, 2006 02:19 PM (9ULFg)
Posted by: eman at December 31, 2006 02:19 PM (FWrFx)
Posted by: Tushar D at December 31, 2006 02:21 PM (9ULFg)
Posted by: BumperStickerist at December 31, 2006 02:31 PM (dTi2n)
I hate it when that happens.
Posted by: sandman arriveth at December 31, 2006 02:50 PM (Zc2PN)
Just so you know. The false suggestion that the research is aimed at curing homosexuality was made by PETA. Yes, the animal rights group.
Of course PETA has their own motives for receiving press on this story. In fact, PETA heavily edited quotes by the researchers and even fabricated information to generate press coverage. Many weeks ago, a writer in the states looked into PETA false claims. Here’s what he found:
http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2006/09/peta_crosses_th.html
Posted by: Jim Newman at December 31, 2006 03:01 PM (Zlqn/)
Posted by: Andrew Sullivan at December 31, 2006 03:03 PM (FWrFx)
Posted by: A Straight Sheep at December 31, 2006 03:07 PM (FWrFx)
Posted by: eman at December 31, 2006 03:09 PM (FWrFx)
Posted by: Clay Aiken at December 31, 2006 03:32 PM (56ssE)
Posted by: pajama momma at December 31, 2006 03:41 PM (+Aq+d)
Posted by: kate q at December 31, 2006 04:50 PM (HbJ+d)
Posted by: The Yaks at December 31, 2006 04:54 PM (GlKkD)
Umm, homosexuals *don't* breed, do they? I thought they got all of their membership through recruiting. It's all free-agency, there is no farm system.
/just sayin'
Posted by: Hurricane Mikey at December 31, 2006 05:34 PM (l2bzR)
Posted by: Dave Munger at December 31, 2006 06:05 PM (2DpdP)
My Dad wouldn't let us go there on Halloween, but my Mom always cooled him off and we were able to go. I never thought about it too much back then. Why would I?
Posted by: eman at December 31, 2006 06:26 PM (FWrFx)
Well? Isn't this new development good then?
Why shouldn't a mother try to eliminate a quality in her child that could result in both unnecessary social stigma and the potential loss of her biological line?
Posted by: lauraw at January 01, 2007 05:34 AM (DbybK)
Posted by: Warden at January 01, 2007 09:14 AM (rZ5uY)
(sarcasm)
Posted by: BattleofthePyramids at January 01, 2007 10:24 AM (50hXk)
Posted by: spurwing plover at January 01, 2007 12:31 PM (oN6hw)
Then suggest research that makes it possible to ensure straight children, and watch them howl again.
Posted by: Tushar D at January 01, 2007 01:22 PM (9ULFg)
Posted by: Rittenhouse at January 01, 2007 06:02 PM (RlP6y)
OSU and OHSU’s Big Embarrassment
Thank you for covering this important issue. Jim Newman¯the PR rep for Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)¯disregards criticism of the unscientific and unethical gay sheep experiments because of nothing more substantial than the fact that it was PETA who brought it to light. PETA sent a detailed seven-page letter to OHSU's counterpart, Oregon State University, with critiques authored by scientific experts and a prominent sexuality research society. Both universities have failed to address the key points that were raised in the letter.
OSU and OHSU certainly wish that PETA had never spoken out so that the experimenters could quietly continue their “research,” which embodies the needless slaughter of animals, an affront to human dignity, and a colossal waste of precious taxpayer funds.
To read PETA’s letter to OSU in its entirety, you can visit:
http://www.stopanimaltests.com/pdfs/LetterToOregonStateUniversitySeptember202006.pdf.
Posted by: Shalin Gala at January 03, 2007 11:37 AM (7HMiR)
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