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Thursday, 17 June 2010

"SUPER" UNCLES...

So being an uncle, I found this article interesting…So NATURALLY I thought I’d share it with you to get your feedback.

A new study by Canadian researchers adds weight to the theory that the evolutionary role of gay men may be to serve as “super uncles” who help close family members survive. 

Paul Vasey, an evolutionary psychologist at the
University of Lethbridge, sought to address an entrenched scientific riddle: If homosexuality appears to be inherited, how have gay men, who are less likely to reproduce, continued to pass on their genes without becoming extinct? 

According to The Gazette of Montreal, one long-running theory argues that gay men serve the evolutionary role of acting as “super uncles” who assist close relatives and indirectly increase the chances of passing on their genes.

“The idea is that homosexuals are helping their close relatives reproduce more successfully and at a higher rate by being helpful: babysitting more, tutoring their nieces and nephews in art and music, and helping out financially with things like medical care and education,” reports The Gazette. 

Vasey and his colleague Doug VanderLaan tested the theory on the Pacific island of Samoa, where they studied women, straight men, and the fa'afafine, men who prefer other men as sexual partners and are accepted within the culture as a distinct third gender category. 

“Vasey found that the fa'afafine said they were significantly more willing to help kin, yet much less interested in helping children who aren't family — providing the first evidence to support the ‘kin selection hypothesis,'” reports The Gazette.

"Maybe it's in this way that they're indirectly passing on at least some of the genes that they're sharing with their kin," said Vasey.

The findings are published online this week in the journal Psychological Science. 

Researchers are now exploring whether the fa'afafine actually follow through on their stated willingness to help family members by giving more money to relatives. 

6 comments:

  1. I do think we can be super uncles (and hello? super PARENTS) and that's just a part of all we have to give to society, but I'd like to take a look at the actual study, since I find this article rather confusing. Do we know as a matter of fact "If homosexuality is inherited" or not? How do the fa'afafine, on an island in the middle of the Pacific, become scientifically representative of homosexuals all over the world?

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  2. This is one of the most intriguing articles I've read in quite sometime; I agree whole heartly that uncles can in fact pass on good genes to nieces and nephews.

    I'm an uncle and great uncle and I have seen some of my characteristics and traits in my nieces, great-neices, nephews, great nephews etc. I've been coaching them since child birth, the girls have become quite the divas.

    I guess we can really be Super Uncles. Thanks for sharing this article and finding with us.

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  3. Wow, this was a very interesting point of view on family. It really made me reflect on my role as an uncle; and the part I play in the progression of the family. Thank you for sharing...

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  4. UNCLES can be very integral to the family structure - whether they're gay or not, and whether they CHOOSE to be. Or not! Am I missing something, but how are "genes" passed from one to another if not biologically (and from parent to child?). I'm thinking an uncle and a niece or nephew can have the same genes because they are OF the same family, and anything other than that are TRAITS! I believe traits can "rub off" or be directly influenced. Now does this flip the whole "hereditary" theory over on its side from nature to nurture? And how does this address the constant fear of parents of gay super-uncles begatting super-gay children by influence?

    Confused? I am, too!
    But I'm also intrigued!
    Great post!

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  5. I'm wondering the same Corey. I really want to know cuz Im a Uncle myself.

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  6. EDUARDO – THAT’S THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION…

    CHET – I CAN TELL THAT YOU ARE A SUPER UNCLE!

    TWISTED WING – FROM ONE UNCLE TO ANOTHER IS MY PLEASURE!

    COREY – ALWAYS ONE TO TICKLE THE IVORIES HUH? LOVE IT!

    DONN M. – I HOPE THEY POST A FOLLOW UP TO THIS ARTICLE THAT ANSWERS THIS QUESTION…

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