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Sex change men born with 'female-like' brain

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Marie Claire News: Brain

Men who undergo a sex change operation are more likely to have been born with a 'female-like' brain, according to new research.

Transsexuals who say they 'feel female' are likely to be carrying an unusual gene type which strongly reduces levels of the male sex hormone, testosterone.

Australian scientists believe the genetic variant could be so powerful it acts during development in the womb and 'under-masculinises' the brain.

Dr Vincent Harley of Prince Henry's Institute in Clayton said: 'There is a social stigma that transsexualism is simply a lifestyle choice. However, our findings support a biological basis of how gender identity develops.'

When Dr Harley and his team analysed 112 male-to-female transsexuals, they found the modified gene variant that can decrease levels of testosterone.

Professor Andrew Sinclair, of Melbourne University commented: 'These defective copies of the androgen receptor gene could severely reduce normal testosterone levels, resulting in a more female-like brain.

'Consequently, male-to-female transsexuals might be expected to have a more feminised brain and are therefore likely to display a female gender identity.'

The news confirms what many scientists already believe, that transexualism is down to our biological make-up, as opposed to a psychological disposition.

The research leader did make clear the gene variant was not always the sole reason behind all sex change operations and implied wider genetic factors were also responsible.

Monday 27 October 2008

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Sex Change Men? Let's try Transwomen.
Comment by Irene Bujman on October 27 10:17

i agree with your stated just recently read - i'm going through the first stage to be a female. from the early days of being a child i felt something wrong with me. I developed breast at 11 and my problems started
Comment by jessica on April 08 07:24