Sometimes I wonder, is there a trans gene? I've first wondered about this a few years ago when a cousin once approached me and told me that he is "like me" and wanted to talk about it. Considering that it happens to 1 out of 50-100,000 people where I come from, the chances of it happening within the immediate family are pretty slim... but of course it can happen.

Sadly this person is no longer with us so we will never know the outcome.

Today I had a strange experience with my niece, something which brought these thoughts back into my head. I have not seen my niece for 5 years and she is now 16. We spoke over IP with webcams active so we could see each other very clearly. If I had not known better, I would have sworn I was speaking with her older brother, she both spoke and moved like a boy and all her hand movements were boyish. It freaked me out and I found myself asking key questions like what she was into these days etc to get some sort of a hint.

Now, I know there are many tomboys out there and fingers crossed that is what this is all about, but I couldn't help but think back to my cousin and to wonder... could it be in the genes?

Obviously, as I said, my niece could just be a tomboy, or lesbian or worst case scenario she could be trans. I certainly am hoping for one of the 2 first options, nobody deserves to have to go through all the crap a trans person does. But if that be the case, she couldn't be in a better family for it.

and so it goes...

If its genetic, its not a single gene, same for sexual orientation, its the interaction of probably 20-50+ groups of genes.

It's far from 1/50,000 or 1/100,000, heck AIS is said to be more prevalent than that (at 1/20,000). Trans is said to be between 1/500 and 1/5000 depending on where you ask. I think 1/2000 is a safe bet.

The August 2005 Journal of Psychoneroendocrinology provides evidence suggesting the genetic component to being transgendered.

A quick review of biology.  ALL animals, regardless if they are XX or XY, start out female.  Think of this as being a baseic form for growth and development of all other genetic features.  If the embryo is XY, the body is rebuilt to create a male reproductive system, bone structure and brain pattern. 

Their research shows that there are some genes that stutter in the transexual population.  If their hyppothesis, if accurate, suggests that this stuttering may prevent the brain from being rewired into a male brain pattern.  Thus the body developes as male but the body stays female. 

The authors also sugest that this stuttering could also explain homosexuality.

Depending on the genes that stutter, this could also explain why some people are intersexed.  (my speculation)

This would support the physical observations shown in Vol 85, No 5 of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.  In this journal, it is demonstrated that typical males and females have different brain structure. MTF transexuals have a female brain 100% of the time.  FTM have a male brain 100% of the time.  Hormone treatment cannot create new neuron patterns, thus the brains had to be this way since birth.

Chaunte

transsexualism = genetic, neurological

I knew there had to be some sort of physiological explanation for it.  The stuttering of genes sounds like a plausible theory.  I read elsewhere it had to do with the wiring of the brain, I just wasn't sure as to the cause.  But genes might be a likely candidate.

Quote from: Schala on February 23, 2008, 07:41:35 AM
If its genetic, its not a single gene, same for sexual orientation, its the interaction of probably 20-50+ groups of genes.

Agreed.  There's no one gene controlling most things (except for in pea plants!  ).  Even simple stuff like eye color and skin color are the result of multiple genes.  For transsexuality, it would have to be a hell of a lot of different factors; eye color has it easy, it's simply an expression of biology.  Gender and sex have to interact with culture, the biggest variable you can get.

Lia

A topic dear to my heart (being a geneticist). I'd be very interested to see the research you're talking about, Chaunte (I don't have access to the Psychoendocrinology journal). 
I've seen the Clin Endo and Metab research before.  I understand that this research is a little hard to perform since you've got to actually dissect a brain and that means you've got to find some dead transsexuals.  It's very unfortunate, because the field is so interesting. 
I haven't seen much new in this field lately.  I wonder if people are afraid to participate in studies like this?

Quote from: Jessica L. on March 05, 2008, 08:03:57 PM
A topic dear to my heart (being a geneticist). I'd be very interested to see the research you're talking about, Chaunte (I don't have access to the Psychoendocrinology journal). 
I've seen the Clin Endo and Metab research before.  I understand that this research is a little hard to perform since you've got to actually dissect a brain and that means you've got to find some dead transsexuals.  It's very unfortunate, because the field is so interesting. 
I haven't seen much new in this field lately.  I wonder if people are afraid to participate in studies like this?

A woman after my own heart!

Medical research on transsexualism is still in its infancy.  I think we will start seeing more non-psychological research soon.

I access the journals by going to www.sciencedirect.com.  It's a simple registration process.  If you are accessing through a library or educational computer system, most journal articles are a free PDF download.  Otherwise you can purchase the articles for a slight fee.  Abstracts are always free.

The paper I am refering to is this.

Sex steroid-related genes and male-to-female transsexualism.  Psychoneuroendocrinology (2005) 30, 657-664
Susanne Henningsson, Lars Westberg, Staffan Nilsson, Bengt Lundstrom, Lisa Ekslius, Owe Bodlund, Eva Lindstrom, Monika Hellstrans, Roland Rosmond, Elias Eriksson, Mikael Landen

Quote from: Chaunte on March 05, 2008, 08:47:11 PM
A woman after my own heart!

Thanks for that.  That's one of the nicest things anyone's said to me in a while. 
And thanks for the citation. 
I would have had some trouble getting this if you hadn't said Science Direct.  It looks like the the library has a paper subscription still, and no electronic link.  Log into Science Direct through the library server and voila.  I love how stupid the system is at Long Beach. 
So, what's your training in? 

My training is actually as a meteorologist with a minor in chemistry.  My masters is in imaging science, paid for by the Eastman Kodak Company.  Nowadays, I am an Earth science teacher in western New York State.

Since accepting my transexual self, I have been a voracious reader of the medical journal articles regarding transexuality.  Afterall, I still regard myself as a scientist.  My current experiment simply happens to be my transition.

Chaunte

Quote from: Chaunte on March 06, 2008, 08:43:54 PM
Since accepting my transexual self, I have been a voracious reader of the medical journal articles regarding transexuality.  Afterall, I still regard myself as a scientist.  My current experiment simply happens to be my transition.

Well, I think you still are a scientist.  It's not like you stop being one simply because you become a teacher or something.  Keeping up on the medical journals is a very good idea.  Educated patients drive the medical profession.  The more educated we are as patients the more our therapists and doctors can't just brush us off or marginalize us.    Kudos for sharing what you find (and summarizing very well). 
What did you do before teaching (or why would Eastman Kodak pay for your Master's degree)?  Sorry if I'm prying too much.  You can just call me on being too nosy. 

Quote from: Maddie Suzumiya on February 25, 2008, 11:12:33 PM
I knew there had to be some sort of physiological explanation for it.  The stuttering of genes sounds like a plausible theory.  I read elsewhere it had to do with the wiring of the brain, I just wasn't sure as to the cause.  But genes might be a likely candidate.

Based on the data to date, our brains are wired as the gender we perceive ourselves to be, or at least the hypothalimus area is.  The thought is that this brain-wiring phenomenon is caused by the genes stuttering.

I tend to explain it like this.  We all start out as female - it seems to be the stable starting point for an embryo based on a set of very robust genes.  Once the embryo is stable is not going to be aborted by the body, the next set of genes kick in and add in all the unique characteristics.  (Guys, that means that you are mutated females!)

Posted on: March 07, 2008, 09:01:30 PM

---

Quote from: Jessica L. on March 07, 2008, 12:08:15 AM

Quote from: Chaunte on March 06, 2008, 08:43:54 PM
Since accepting my transexual self, I have been a voracious reader of the medical journal articles regarding transexuality.  Afterall, I still regard myself as a scientist.  My current experiment simply happens to be my transition.

Well, I think you still are a scientist.  It's not like you stop being one simply because you become a teacher or something.  Keeping up on the medical journals is a very good idea.  Educated patients drive the medical profession.  The more educated we are as patients the more our therapists and doctors can't just brush us off or marginalize us.    Kudos for sharing what you find (and summarizing very well). 
What did you do before teaching (or why would Eastman Kodak pay for your Master's degree)?  Sorry if I'm prying too much.  You can just call me on being too nosy. 

I was an imaging scientist/engineer at Kodak.  My expertise and masters was in how photographic materials perform under different temperature & humidity conditions.  My supervisor and I were noted for acquiring information that everyone else thought was impossible to get.  Unfortunately, only a few artsy types and dinosaurs like me still use silver halide.  A shame because it provides a better image, but I am biased.