Jan 20 2009
Love Vaccine
Back in September NPR introduced the research of neuroscientist Larry Young’s theory of monogamy after researching the brain chemistry of prairie vole pair bonding. Young observed the release of a brain hormone called vasopressin in prairie voles, a species of vole that pair bonds. Young then injected the hormone into male voles of a different species that do not pair bond, and made a otherwise promiscuous vole
hold his nose and close his eyes and…pair bond.
Here’s the link to the article at Nature.com: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v457/n7226/full/457148a.html
Now that Valentine’s Day is approaching, Young and his voles are back in the media. Young predicted that soon a love potion could make an appearance on the market. On NPR, the idea of a love vaccine was touched upon. Of course the pros and cons were discussed…generally. It was mentioned that it might be nice to suppress the feeling of love after a break-up or the death of a loved one, but it was not mentioned that a “love vaccine” might be used to suppress homosexual love. I understand that everyone may want to avoid that conversation/controversy. But, it brings to mind that scene in the third X-Man (horrible movie, by the way) where Rogue gets in line to have her powers removed.Is it ethical to consider creating a love vaccine? I can’t help but imagine some anti-gay groups demanding the availability of an anti-love/gay supressant. And consequently, some families forcing possibly forcing this vaccine on any child they may suspect of being gay. Can anyone else see the danger in this? The possibility of seeing this turn into a gay vaccine rather than love vaccine?
Any thoughts?
