30 July 2008

'Transsexuality gene' ?

This article in the New Scientist may have important ramifications for some areas of debate about gender, 'Transsexuality gene' boosts male hormones: "A gene variant has been identified that appears to be associated with female-to-male transsexuality ... While such complex behaviour is likely the result of multiple genes, environmental and cultural factors, the researchers say the discovery suggests that transsexuality does have a genetic component.". I do hope the accumulation of this kind of evidence helps to decouple (if you'll pardon the expression) transgenderedness from other gender issues. It is becoming quite clear that this is a condition with roots in pre-birth hormone effects on the brain, our moral responses really do need to start from that point.

No comments:

Review: It happened in Hell

 It seemed to me that this book set out to do two main things. One was to demonstrate that so many of our notions of what goes under the lab...