Single gene controls gender

[Steffi]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/genetics/article6952050.ece

[Dawn D.]

I think this article was posted here some time back. Even so, I see it as testimony to more advanced techniques, less risky and invasive methods of gender correction in the future! It is a very good read!


Dawn

[Bones]

Where do I sign up?

[Steph]

Well we have GM food, GM fish, why not GM Humans

Steph

[kelly_aus]

Interesting development.. Sadly, I see medical "ethics" committees being against this as a possible useful treatment, as they often are with any slightly controversial treatment.

[brainiac]

Massive caveat: mouse research findings do not equate to human research findings.

[Meepit]

Where do I sign up?

THIS 

[Muffin]

I'm finding this confusing in how it relates to gender identity. If anything this is just freaking me out as I feel it could be used against Transsexuals. No your FOXL2 is in the off position there is no way you could have a female gender identity".
Maybe I'm confusing gender for gender-identity again, or showing my ignorance of such topics >___<

[LordKAT]

The physical effects of this were harder to assess as male and female mice have fewer distinctive traits — there is no difference in hairiness, for instance, and little difference in size. However, the scientists anticipate that in humans the effect would be similar to when testosterone is given in tablet form. In gender reassignment therapy this causes females to lose developed breasts and grow beards. Their voices deepen too.

The bolded part is in error no matter how I wish it were true.

[Dawn D.]

Massive caveat: mouse research findings do not equate to human research findings.

Fact: laboratory research in mice, rats, monkeys, pigs etc. have on a very large number of occasions in the past, ultimately resulted in human research which also have lead to human treatment application.



Dawn

[Melody Maia]

The only big question I have about this is, if it develops into a treatment, how would it work on MTFs that have already had the surgery? I imagine other body structures would change to what would have been our female equivalents, but there isn't a full penis to change into a complete vagina/clitoris structure anymore. It is just sci-fi at this point, but hey, interesting to think about.

[Meepit]

The only big question I have about this is, if it develops into a treatment, how would it work on MTFs that have already had the surgery? I imagine other body structures would change to what would have been our female equivalents, but there isn't a full penis to change into a complete vagina/clitoris structure anymore. It is just sci-fi at this point, but hey, interesting to think about.

I was wondering about this as well. The testes or ovaries in trans individuals would have to be intact it seems for them to "change" for lack of a better word. At least that's my understanding of the article  . Looks like I'll be hanging onto my internal-balls for a little while longer then  .

[Bones]

I was wondering about this as well. The testes or ovaries in trans individuals would have to be intact it seems for them to "change" for lack of a better word. At least that's my understanding of the article  . Looks like I'll be hanging onto my internal-balls for a little while longer then  .

I was thinking the same thing...but knowing my luck, this sort of thing won't happen in my lifetime =/

[Iceprincess]

I have a question, because I'm not getting it at all...

if this treatment become true, what does it changes?

a) The mind's gender identity (matching male body with male mind if you had a female mind)
b) The body's gender (matching female body with female mind if you had a male body and female mind)

If it's option A, then NO THANK YOU!

[Meepit]

I have a question, because I'm not getting it at all...

if this treatment become true, what does it changes?

a) The mind's gender identity (matching male body with male mind if you had a female mind)
b) The body's gender (matching female body with female mind if you had a male body and female mind)

If it's option A, then NO THANK YOU!

I don't think it changes much, just having close-to-testes instead of ovaries or the other way around. I guess that can become easier for our community in the sense that the "right" hormones can be produced by the body instead of us having to take shots, patches, pills, etc. At least, that's what happened to the female-bodied mouse who's gene was changed  it started producing testosterone through the newly formed testes.

[Cruelladeville]

But once more it ads further science to the argument....

That being TG is not a 'lifestyle' choice....that gene anomalies and foetal development disruptions are highly likely to play some part.... in the creation of folk like us....

But what's clear is always the younger you are, and the later you're born say 2015 and while the current options for treatment improve the less stressful and easier physical transformations will become...

But I'd agree too that this doesn't touch at all on the mental stuff – which will remain as complex as ever!

Here's a thought – what if come Nov in the USA the Tea Party and bible-belt Christian-far-right get in...?

You can kiss-good bye to anything like this ever being govt funded and pushed through....lol