On Friday, April 15, the Biology Department welcomed Colgate alumnus and scholar Nathan W. Bailey ’02 for a presentation on his research titled, “The Evolution of Same-Sex Sexual Behavior in Animals.” Bailey currently works as a Biology professor at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Bailey has received extensive recognition for his pioneering research in biology and genetics, specifically for his research in the field of same-sex sexual behavior in animals.

“I owe a lot to my time at Colgate; that was when I really began thinking critically about same-sex sexual behavior in animals,” Bailey said.

Bailey began the talk by establishing that evolutionary biology is rooted in diversity. Outlining the history of same-sex behavior, Bailey pointed out ideas presented by thinkers and scientists all throughout history. He noted Aristotle’s observation of same-sex sexual behavior in animals to assert that this is hardly a new phenomenon. He then proceeded to counter this example by explaining that although observations of same-sex sexual behavior in animals have been cited for thousands of years, the topic has largely been regarded as taboo. Since the topic has been perceived as taboo, information and data about same-sex sexual behavior in animals has not been effectively disseminated and many people end up oblivious to this facet of animal behavior. Bailey pointed out that 50 percent of bottlenose dolphin mating occurs between dolphins of the same sex.

Bailey explained that it is important to differentiate between three aspects of same-sex sexual behavior in animals: behavior, preference and orientation. Behavior refers to the interaction between same-sex individuals expressed during opposite sex courtship and mating. Preference refers to when an animal is given a choice between the same and opposite sex for a sexual interaction and a preference is shown for the same-sex partner. Orientation is a more permanent internal predisposition to desire sexual interactions with the same sex. Bailey noted that orientation is extremely difficult to study in animals. He also communicated that the media has a tendency to falsely label this type of behavior in animals as “homosexual.” He stressed the importance of avoiding this term with regard to animals because sexual orientation in

animals is nearly impossible to gauge.

 In studying same-sex sexual behaviors in animals, male animals are almost always used as subjects.

“There seems to be a taxonomic bias against studying female animal sex behaviors,” Bailey said.

After conducting research on same-sex behavior in Drosophila melanogaster flies, Bailey and his colleagues found that exogenous chemicals can manipulate or even induce male-male courtship. Additionally, alteration of drosophila genotypes can alter courtship patterns thus eliciting same-sex sexual behavior.

 “A strong social environment can modulate this very complex behavior,” Bailey said.

The talk was well-received by students who attended.

“I have never really thought about same-sex sexual behavior in animals before,” first-year Carsen Cochran said.

First-year Gianna Bustamante shared a similar sentiment.

“This talk was definitely interesting because it is not something that people really talk about in the scientific community.”

“It’s cool that this is being explored more openly now and that it is being recognized that evolution isn’t an easy topic to explain,” first-year student Marybeth Wisdo said.