Like any aspect of medicine or biology, mental health is quite a complex subject and there isnt really any one thing that can improve or worsen it. In most cases, genetics is a key factor. A lot of mental conditions, or even just mental health issues in general, tend to be rather common in some families. Obviously, genetics is a complex subject, and family history can only explain so much of it. For instance, Down Syndrome, one of the most common mental health conditions, is caused by an abnormality in the number of chromosomes a person has. Schizophrenia has been traced to one very specific gene. Autism, on the other hand, is largely genetic, but has been linked to hundreds, perhaps even thousands of genes, and there isnt one or even a specific set of these genes that seem to cause it.

Confused yet? Believe me, it gets weirder. Many of these autism genes have been traced to pre-evolution, meaning that humans have had them before they were human. The number of autistic genes has since increased. This, combined with a possible occurrence of a few of these genes in child prodigies, has led some to believe that autism was a positive mutation for humanity at some point and played a small role in species survival. Also, even though autism is highly genetic and can run in families family members almost never have the same autistic symptoms, nor do they fall on the same place on the spectrum.

Schizophrenia is just as complex and surprising. For instance, that one gene that has been linked to Schizophrenia has been named DIS (Disrupted in Schizophrenia). The reason for this is because scientists still have no idea what the gene is supposed to do. They only know that its malfunction results in Schizophrenia. Another weird statistic is that Schizophrenia seems to be slightly more common in gay men than most other groups, and the scientific community still has no idea why.

Perhaps strangest of all is that despite all of this genetic complexity, the mentally ill and those with physical disabilities are still a minority population-wise. The mentally ill make up only about one-fifth of the American populace. Most people are able-bodied and neurotypical despite literally thousands of interconnected parts designed to fit together in one specific way. One of my personal favorite biology facts is that evolution functions on genetic diversity. Literally every creature that exists today does so because somebody was born different from everyone else, and, miracle of miracles, that individual had an easier go at life than all the others, and so that became the new normal. Take us, for example. We have opposable thumbs, are mostly hairless, walk on two feet, stand up straight, live in communities, etc., and the basic reason for all of it? Well it worked for that first guy.

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One Mind: Looking at genetics and environment - The Knox Student

The reasons behind why people are gay, straight, or bisexual have long been a source of public fascination. Indeed, research on the topic of sexual orientation offers a powerful window into understanding human sexuality. The Archives of Sexual Behavior recently published a special edition devoted to research in this area, titled The Puzzle of Sexual Orientation. One study, conducted by scientists at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, offers compelling, cross-cultural evidence that common genetic factors underlie same-sex, sexual preference in men.

In southern Mexico, individuals who are biologically male and sexually attracted to men are known as muxes. They are recognized as a third gender: Muxe nguiiu tend to be masculine in their appearance and behavior, while muxe gunaa are feminine. In Western cultures, they would be considered gay men and transgender women, respectively.

Several correlates of male androphilia biological males who are sexually attracted to men have been shown across different cultures, which is suggestive of a common biological foundation among them. For example, the fraternal birth order effectthe phenomenon whereby male androphilia is predicted by having a higher number of biological older brothersis evident in both Western and Samoan cultures.

Interestingly, in Western society, homosexual men, compared with heterosexual men, tend to recall higher levels of separation anxiety the distress resulting from being separated from major attachment figures, like ones primary caregiver or close family members. Research in Samoa has similarly demonstrated that third-gender faafafineindividuals who are feminine in appearance, biologically male, and attracted to menalso recall greater childhood separation anxiety when compared with heterosexual Samoan men. Thus, if a similar pattern regarding separation anxiety were to be found in a third, disparate culturein the case, the Istmo region of Oaxaca, Mexicoit would add to the evidence that male androphilia has biological underpinnings.

The current study included 141 heterosexual women, 135 heterosexual men, and 178 muxes (61 muxe nguiiu and 117 muxe gunaa). Study participants were interviewed using a questionnaire that asked about separation anxiety; more specifically, distress and worry they experienced as a child in relation to being separated from a parental figure. Participants rated how true each question was for them when they were between the ages of 6 to 12 years old.

Muxes showed elevated rates of childhood separation anxiety when compared with heterosexual men, similar to what has been seen in gay men in Canada and faafafine in Samoa. There were also no differences in anxiety scores between women and muxe nguiiu or muxe gunaa, or between the two types of muxes.

When we consider possible explanations for these results, social mechanisms are unlikely, as previous research has shown that anxiety is heritable and parenting tends to be in response to childrens traits and behaviors, as opposed to the other way around. Biological mechanisms, however, offer a more compelling account. For instance, exposure to female-typical levels of sex steroid hormones in the prenatal environment are thought to feminize regions of the male brain that are related to sexual orientation, thereby influencing attachment and anxiety.

On top of this, studies in molecular genetics have shown that Xq28, a region located at the tip of the X chromosome, is involved in both the expression of anxiety and male androphilia. This suggests that common genetic factors may underlie the expression of both. Twin studies additionally point to genetic explanations as the underlying force for same-sex partner preference in men and neuroticism, a personality trait that is comparable to anxiety.

These findings suggest childhood separation anxiety may be a culturally universal correlate of androphilia in men. This has important implications for our understanding of childrens mental health conditions, as subclinical levels of separation anxiety, when intertwined with male androphilia, may represent a typical part of the developmental life course.

As it stands, sexual orientation research will continue to evoke widespread interest and controversy for the foreseeable future because it has the potential to be usedfor better or worseto uphold particular socio-political agendas. The moral acceptability of homosexuality has often hinged on the idea that same-sex desires are innate, immutable, and therefore, not a choice. This is clear when we think about how previous beliefs around homosexuality being learned were once used to justify (now discredited) attempts to change these desires.

The cross-cultural similarities evinced by the current study offer further proof that being gay is genetic, which is, in itself, an interesting finding. But we as a society should challenge the notion that sexual preferences must be non-volitional in order to be socially acceptable or safe from scrutiny. The etiology of homosexuality, biological or otherwise, should have no bearing on gay individuals right to equality.

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Cross-Cultural Evidence for the Genetics of Homosexuality - Scientific American

Genetic research in wood bison may have wider implications for wildlife conservation and for the Canadian livestock industry. Scientists have developed tools using assisted reproductive technologies such as cryopreservation (freezing), artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer which could help increase dwindling wild bison populations and prevent the spread of disease.

Canadian wood bison is an indigenous species that is perilously close to losing too much of its genetic diversity to be able to survive for the long term. Past efforts to preserve the species included interbreeding them with Plains bison and domestic cattle, which produced hybrids that dont contribute to build wild bison genetics. In addition, 30 to 60 per cent of the remaining wood bison population carries cattle diseases such as brucellosis and tuberculosis (TB).

For the past 10 years, the Wood Bison Research Group which includes scientists at the University of Saskatchewan and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has been working to develop tools for producing and preserving clean, disease-free wood bison germplasm.

Gregg Adams of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in Saskatoon is the principal investigator on the project and has recently been working on techniques to wash brucellosis pathogens from embryos and semen. Once washed, embryos and sperm no longer carry the disease, and therefore can be used to regenerate a healthy wood bison population quickly through embryo transfer and AI.

We have produced over 400 wood bison embryos and have over 100 preserved in liquid nitrogen tanks. From initial studies, we now know that we can wash the semen, embryos and eggs free from brucellosis organisms, says Adams.

The summer of 2016 showed proof of concept was complete with the birth of three, live, healthy bison calves from the transfer of in vitro fertilized embryos and one from a frozen embryo.

AAFC scientist Muhammad Anzar is a project lead on the development of frozen bison semen fit for AI. Semen is conventionally frozen in a medium containing either egg yolk or milk to protect the sperm cells against cold shock. However, there is a risk that disease pathogens can hitch a ride in these animal proteins added to the semen extender.

The technique that I developed for the cryopreservation of semen is without adding egg yolk or milk in the semen extender, says Anzar. The advantage of this clean semen is that it is as good as using egg yolk, which is a common extender, but its free from any external pathogens or micro-organisms.

This new technique has the potential to be applied elsewhere.

We have eliminated the possibility of disease transmission, so our research is very beneficial for the bison industry and it will also be well taken by the dairy and beef AI industry too, says Anzar.

Many countries such as Japan and Europe have regulations that require any imported livestock semen and embryos to be free of pathogens. The risk of disease transmission is certainly the main limiting factor in the exchange of bison genetics worldwide, as countries looking to improve their herds genetics do not want to import these potential biosecurity hazards.

And the research could help wildlife conservation efforts come full circle and reverse a chain of infection that they helped cause in the first place. Elk and bison are the two main wildlife reservoirs for brucellosis and TB in Canada and U.S., says Adams. Elk are infected from bison and its from elk that there have been documented cases of transmission to cattle. This is a reasonable strategy to begin the clean up process, to improve the genetic diversity of the bison species and to prevent the possibility of infection of our healthy livestock with these diseases.

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Producing clean bison genetics - Grainews