What do you think about transgendered people?
boltfox20
2012/05/27 12:32:59
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What defines a male or female? Most people would say it's the chromosomes. Some say the genitalia is the defining factor. A select few claim that the gender you are born with is all that matters. Are any of these true?
"Human sex is determined by containing SRY or not. Once SRY is activated, cells create testosterone and anti-müllerian hormone to turn the genderless sex organs into male. With females, their cells excrete estrogen, driving the body down the female pathway. Despite the fact that SRY seems to be the main gene in determining male characteristics, it requires the action of multiple genes to develop testes. In XY mice, lack of the gene DAX1 on the X chromosome results in sterility, but in humans it causes adrenal hypoplasia congenita. However, when an extra DAX1 gene is placed on the X, the result is a female, despite the existence of SRY. Also, even when there are normal sex chromosomes in XX females, duplication or expression of SOX9 causes testes to develop. Gradual sex reversal in developed mice can also occur when the gene FOXL2 is removed from females."
~ Wikipedia
So, apparently, there are many factors which determine the gender of a human. The inclusion of mice above is due to them having the closest genome to our own, nearly identical. As such, if removing the FOXL2 gene in mice will cause a reversal (from female) then it is logical to assume the same or similar will occur in humans.
Reading the rest of the article, one can learn that not only are the chromosomes not the main defining factor in the gender of humans, but there are many situations where there are XY females and XX males. Pushing this to the extreme, it is entirely possible for a woman to have identical twins where the male lost his SRY and the female gained the SRY, thus swapping the genders. Without a DNA check, would the mother even notice there was a switch?
So, where does this leave transgendered people, those who identify as the opposite gender and actively attempt to change their sex? It leaves them hope for achieving their goals. It is possible in developing humans to change the gender, and it is theoretically possible in adult females to reverse their gender. In the very near future, the gender change could be more than simply cosmetic.
What's your opinion of transgendered people?
So, apparently, there are many factors which determine the gender of a human. The inclusion of mice above is due to them having the closest genome to our own, nearly identical. As such, if removing the FOXL2 gene in mice will cause a reversal (from female) then it is logical to assume the same or similar will occur in humans.
Reading the rest of the article, one can learn that not only are the chromosomes not the main defining factor in the gender of humans, but there are many situations where there are XY females and XX males. Pushing this to the extreme, it is entirely possible for a woman to have identical twins where the male lost his SRY and the female gained the SRY, thus swapping the genders. Without a DNA check, would the mother even notice there was a switch?
So, where does this leave transgendered people, those who identify as the opposite gender and actively attempt to change their sex? It leaves them hope for achieving their goals. It is possible in developing humans to change the gender, and it is theoretically possible in adult females to reverse their gender. In the very near future, the gender change could be more than simply cosmetic.
What's your opinion of transgendered people?
Top Opinion
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Joanie 2012/05/28 18:33:27If they want to be identified as a certain gender, then they are that gender.
+3I am probably one of the few out transsexual people on Sodahead. And I can assure you that gender identity is determined at birth and that it does not always match chromosomes or sex organs. When gender identity does not match chromosomes and/or sex organs, a transsexual is born. We generally transition at some point in our lives to the sex of the gender identity we were born with. This is not only my personal experience; it is the considered judgment of the medical community. The only ones who have "issues" about "allowing" transgender people to be recognized as the sex of the gender identity with which we were born are people who are unwilling, usually because of some non-scientific religious or "faith-based" beliefs, to accept scientific fact. Others are simply bigots who feel uncomfortable around people who are different.
Its not harming anyone.
A man spending several thousand dollars to become a woman is like a politician spending $10 million dollars to get a $200k job.
If you had the distinct feeling that you were in the wrong body, nothing felt right, and you knew there was a way to get the body you know you should have, wouldn't you take the opportunity if you could?
That's usually how it is, as I understand it.
Was that a real picture of Keith Richards? He makes an ugly woman. =\
... Still an ugly woman. =\
However, it's also apparent that many make a choice merely because they, 'identify' with the opposite and it's more of a preference.
What they do with it is their business but need to understand the issues that arise by making a switch.
I've thought about it a great deal. I see them as being just as normal as I am. As such, it is up to you to tell me why you think they are in need of an intervention.
Secondly, we are unable to alter the brain in this fashion and probably wouldn't want to even if we could. Altering the brain means altering the person, something that is highly shunned in our society, unless you're in favor of brainwashing like some creationists are. In either case, it is significantly easier and less expensive to alter the body and not the mind.
All you are accomplishing is making these people feel less than human. That's not good for anyone.