Melbourne,
Australia — Australian researchers have begun a
world-first study of the DNA of transsexuals to search
for genes that influence whether a person feels male or
female.
Associate Professor of
Genetics at Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research
<http://www.phimr.monash.edu.au/>
in Melbourne, Vincent Harley, said transsexuals felt
trapped in the wrong body.
"From between
three and five years of age they are convinced they
are members of the opposite sex," he said.
Professor Harley
<http://www.monash.edu.au/>
is an expert in the genetics of intersex disorders
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersexuality>,
where one in 4000 children are born with genitalia that
are not clearly male or female.
At present, genital
surgery is carried out soon after birth. "But it is very
difficult to know whether they are being assigned the
correct gender," Professor Harley said.
A genetic test that could
indicate whether these children were likely to grow up
feeling like boys or girls would be extremely helpful, he
said
Melbourne psychiatrist
Herbert Bower, of Australasia's only gender dysphoria
clinic at Monash Medical Centre and part of the research
team, said the discovery of genetic variations associated
with transsexualism would mean children with gender
identity disorders could confidently be raised as the
opposite sex and given treatments to prevent
puberty.
It also would assist
adults with the decision to have sex reassignment
surgery.
In the new study, the
Melbourne team has begun analysing the DNA in blood
samples of 10 transsexuals for variations in three
genes.
On the web -
Monash
Medical Centre
