…But You Can’t Take the Genes Out of the Tranny

What causes transsexuality? People have been arguing over that little drama for decades. There have been all kinds of theories. Some have been sensible. Many have been short sighted. A couple have been down right moronic. Scholars, scientist, doctors and self righteous debunkers have all thrown their opinions into the hat.

Chromosome push theory suggested that the introduction of certain proteins during fetal development that cause the fetus to mutate from female to male (all human embryos start their existence as female when they are first fertilized.) is interfered with during the development of the brain and nervous system. So the brain remains female while the body changes to male.

Diethylstilbestrol was a powerful synthetic estrogen that was widely used in the from 1938 to 1971. As the LGBT rights movement progressed and transsexuality came under more close scrutiny, the drug was blamed for causing disorders that led to gender dysphoria and other issues.

Symbiotic fusion suggested that an abnormally close bond between the mother and child was formed during fetal development. This bond supposedly left a psychological imprint on the child causing him to imitate the mother’s behaviors.

Paternal theory blames a lack of significant involvement in the child’s life by the father leaving an insufficient masculine influence on the child’s psyche. It was then suggested that the lack of a masculine role model left child with no choice but to emulate feminine influences.

Then of course there are the closed minded right-wingers who insist that transsexualism is pure choice. As if anyone would subject themselves to the hardships of transition if it was not an absolute necessity.  None of these theories have ever been proven. That is until now!

Geneticists Vincent Harley and Lauren Hare, from Australia’s Prince Henry Institute and Monash University respectively, have identified a genetic link to male to female transsexualism. So as fate would have it, it turns out that genetic theory turns out to be the correct answer.

The discovery was made as part of the Human Genome Project. It shows that some male to female transsexuals carry a different form of a gene called an Androgen Receptor (AR). They are a short, repetitive sequence of DNA. Androgen receptors deal with the body’s response to testosterone. In male to female trannies that response is modified by the difference in their AR.

It is probable that the “defective” extra-long copies of the AR gene could severely reduce normal testosterone levels. That reduction leads to a more female-like brain. This discovery builds on previous research that has documented some similarities in the brain structure of females and male to female transsexuals.

Debunkers of the study, which was released in the journal of Biological Psychiatry, say that it is not accurate enough due to the limited number of subjects involved in the study. 112 male to female transsexual subjects were compared to 258 non-transsexual men. Although no one is attempting to disqualify the study, there is a large call for it to be replicated in order to give the findings a more solid base.

Jennifer Graves, head of the Comparative Genomics Research Group at the Australian National University says, “This is still a small sample …. so there is much more to be done.” She also says that she is certain that it will turn out that the RA genes in question will turn out to have an important role in sexuality.

Whether or not this specific RA gene is the ultimate cause of transsexuality, speaking as a pre-op tranny, it feels damn good to have some solid evidence towards answering the ever-pesky question, “Why me?”

Being able to tell myself that I was born this way goes a LONG way in providing some solace of peace of mind. Being as open as I am about my transsexuality I know that sooner or later I will once again encounter someone who is going to want to argue about the morality of my “lifestyle choice.” It is going to be great having the weapon of a scientific study in my debate arsenal. The little, tenacious, instigator part of me almost wants someone to start the argument so I can beat them down with this new knowledge.

But even for those who are more secretive about their transsexual existence and do not crave the adrenalin rush of a head-to-head, hard core debate will be able to draw comfort from this discovery. No matter how much you say you do not care about what other people think, it is always good to feel normal.