Letter: A controversial chromosome

Sir: If gay genes exist, there is an interesting consequence ('Homosexuality linked to genes'). Other things being equal, a gene that vastly reduces the chance of propagating itself through reproduction will in the course of time gradually disappear.

So other things are clearly not equal, and one is forced to conclude that the secondary effects of possessing this new gene, either to those gays who do have children, or to the society (or gene-pool) of which they form a part, are so beneficial that they balance the obvious reproductive disadvantage.

Yours sincerely,

R. H. S. CARPENTER

Lecturer in Physiology

Cambridge University

16 July