Sexual Identity Hard-Wired by Genetics - Study

Reuters ^ | Mon, 20 Oct 03

[xzins]

Sexual Identity Hard-Wired by Genetics - Study Mon October 20, 2003 12:11 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sexual identity is wired into the genes, which discounts the concept that homosexuality and transgender sexuality are a choice, California researchers reported on Monday. "Our findings may help answer an important question -- why do we feel male or female?" Dr. Eric Vilain, a genetics professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, said in a statement. "Sexual identity is rooted in every person's biology before birth and springs from a variation in our individual genome."

His team has identified 54 genes in mice that may explain why male and female brains look and function differently.

Since the 1970s, scientists have believed that estrogen and testosterone were wholly responsible for sexually organizing the brain. Recent evidence, however, indicates that hormones cannot explain everything about the sexual differences between male and female brains.

Published in the latest edition of the journal Molecular Brain Research, the UCLA discovery may also offer physicians an improved tool for gender assignment of babies born with ambiguous genitalia.

Mild cases of malformed genitalia occur in 1 percent of all births -- about 3 million cases. More severe cases -- where doctors can't inform parents whether they had a boy or girl -- occur in one in 3,000 births.

"If physicians could predict the gender of newborns with ambiguous genitalia at birth, we would make less mistakes in gender assignment," Vilain said.

Using two genetic testing methods, the researchers compared the production of genes in male and female brains in embryonic mice -- long before the animals developed sex organs.

They found 54 genes produced in different amounts in male and female mouse brains, prior to hormonal influence. Eighteen of the genes were produced at higher levels in the male brains; 36 were produced at higher levels in the female brains.

"We discovered that the male and female brains differed in many measurable ways, including anatomy and function." Vilain said.

For example, the two hemispheres of the brain appeared more symmetrical in females than in males. According to Vilain, the symmetry may improve communication between both sides of the brain, leading to enhanced verbal expressiveness in females.

"This anatomical difference may explain why women can sometimes articulate their feelings more easily than men," he said.

The scientists plan to conduct further studies to determine the specific role for each of the 54 genes they identified.

"Our findings may explain why we feel male or female, regardless of our actual anatomy," said Vilain. "These discoveries lend credence to the idea that being transgender --- feeling that one has been born into the body of the wrong sex -- is a state of mind.

[xzins]

ping

[capt. norm]

Third posting today of this piece.

[zx2dragon]

search, search, search already posted here.

[xzins]

ambiguous genitalia is evidence of mixed wiring during developmental stages of the intra-uterine child.

The same as malformed organs mixed up with each other, grown together in tragic ways, these anomalies speak more of genetic defects than of genetic wholeness.

[xzins]

searched by title with the word "identity." Nothing came up. If differing titles are used, then there's little hope of catching it. If you search on a keyword out of the title and it doesn't show, then what??

[Always Right]

"We discovered that the male and female brains differed in many measurable ways, including anatomy and function." Vilain said.

I was taught about this in 3rd grade 30 years ago....

[OpusatFR]

I'm trying to remember if I've ever given birth to mice.

Nope, Just humans.

[SpinyNorman]

Sexual identity is wired into the genes, which discounts the concept that homosexuality and transgender sexuality are a choice, California researchers reported on Monday. "Our findings may help answer an important question -- why do we feel male or female?"

Conversely, this can also be used to explain the normal male functions of leering and just "being guys." "Hey lady, I can't help it!! It's hardwired into my genes!" (yeah, I know, that last sentence just begs to be turned into a sexist pig joke. I am really restraing myself, but my genes may overcome what little control I have!!).

[Restorer]

Steaming bullpucky.

If homosexuality were indeed genetic, it would long ago have bred itself out of existence, as homosexuals are far less likely to reproduce than heterosexuals.

We don't hear much about it, but we are more and more finding that much that is hardwired about the human body and mind is due to minor changes in the intrauterine environment. Such changes or defects can indeed be "inborn," while having nothing at all to do with the genes.

[Always Right]

Sexual identity is wired into the genes, which discounts the concept that homosexuality and transgender sexuality are a choice

I just love 'scientists' these days. They discover differences between MALES and FEMALES and they somehow relate this to HOMOSEXUALITY. That's a crock, because they did not even study HOMOSEXUALITY in this study. I hate science today because over 90% of it is driven by political agendas and fails to offer any real science.

[Enterprise]

hehe, hehehe, he said HARDwired in his jeans.

[Tacis]

Then, ley us all pray that medical science is quickly able to find a miracle cure for this terrible genetic disease. How about some wonderful and sensitive Hollywood type hold a telethon every year to raise money to find a cure? They could call it something like "Cloony's Tinkerbells," or "Sarandin's Fairies." Let's help Susan find a cure!

Even if absolutely proven to be scientific fact and a fix technically feasable, can you imagine ANY company or foundation willing to fund or conduct the research necessary to turn fairies back to normal people and prevent the birth of any more defective fairies? NEVER HAPPEN!

[DallasMike]

If homosexuality were indeed genetic, it would long ago have bred itself out of existence, as homosexuals are far less likely to reproduce than heterosexuals.

I'm very skeptical of this article, but if your statement were true, we wouldn't have Down's syndrome or Tay-Sach's disease either. Too lengthy to explain here, but it all has to do with recessive genes that only express themselves sometimes when both parents have the particular recessive gene.

My guess, based on gays and lesbians that I know, is that genetics sometimes plays a role but that many instances of homosexuality are the result of childhood trauma, such as an emotionally distant father or childhood molestation.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Sexual identity is wired into the genes, which discounts the concept that homosexuality and transgender sexuality are a choice . . ."

My reading of the article finds nothing to support this claim about homosexuality. Most homosexuals do not display abnormal development of the sexual organs, nor do they typically have imbalances in hormone levels.

[Steve_Seattle]

I agree - see my comment #15. This research does not support the claim about homosexuality.

[Always Right]

hehe, hehehe, he said HARDwired in his jeans.

Ouch, doesn't that hurt.

[Always Right]

My reading of the article finds nothing to support this claim about homosexuality. Most homosexuals do not display abnormal development of the sexual organs, nor do they typically have imbalances in hormone levels.

Don't you get it. Since there are genetic differnces between male and female rats that completely explains why gays want to put hamsters up their butts.

[RonF]

O.K. This article gives evidence that there are morphological differences between men and women. Given that mice were involved, where does it speak to any genetic link on how people feel about their sexual identity. Also; few homosexuals have any question about their sexual identity (i.e., whether they are men or women). The issue is their sexual orientation (who they want to have sex with).

[AppyPappy]

Ahhh....so if I am attracted to fat women in biker shorts, it's in my genetic makeup. Cool!