(Untitled)

[bensong1]

So what's the plural of "allele", anyway? When they discover the existence of an allele, do they give it a name?

("Before we go any further, I need to know... Have you had your allele screening?")http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/

Comments

[melebeth]

Alleles, and yes, although I recognize this may have been a rhetorical question :)

[cinema_babe]

Alleles and I think so

[rabjeff]

Never heard of it. Please explain.

[rabjeff]

So I looked it up, but I don't understand why it would be relevant unless you are planning on having children together. Otherwise why look into your genes?

[bensong1]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090102087.htm

[rabjeff]

I had seen reference to this, but had not noticed the term "allele". The following comments, originally on UKPoly, were posted to a discussion list I am on

>> it proves nothing about sexual fidelity (which also doesn't
>> necessarily mean monogamy).
>
> Yes, this hones in on the key problem that I have with this article.
> There is an implicit assumption of a dichotomy between the
> "faithfully monogamous" and the "commitment phobe". No other
> possiblities are really discussed.
>
> Speaking as somebody who has been in the same relationship for my
> entire adult life (fourteen years now) _and_ has been polyamorous
> for the past eleven years... well, neither of those suits really fit
> all that well!
>
> One of the inherent challenges to scientific research is framing the
> correct initial questions. I see no reason why biology should not
> account for why some people are "hardwired" mono or poly... but the
> approach discussed here seems inherently flawed.