flip the gender switch

verklingen · 12-14-2009, 11:31 AM

kinda gives a whole new meaning to the balance of masculine and feminine, doesn't it?

Quote:

Battle of the sexes - one gene keeps us either male or female, scientists find
Women and men are constantly battling to suppress their masculine and feminine sides - at least biologically, claim scientists.

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent
Published: 7:30AM GMT 11 Dec 2009

Researchers have found that the body is in a constant fight to remain either female or male and the suppression of just one gene could cause it to "flip" from one to the other.

The remarkable findings refute the generally held view that sex is determined at birth and is irreversible in later life.

They could also lead to treatments for certain gender disorders in children, early menopause in women and even eventually non-surgical sex changes.

In mammals, males have XY chromosomes and females XX. The new research shows that another gene is responsible for switching women into men.

If the FOXL2 is switched on then the body grows ovaries, switched off and they are replaced by testicles.

But what really surprised the researchers is that the process continues after birth and the body remains in a constant tussle to either switch on or off the gene - even in adulthood.

"No one would have betted on this," said Professor Mathias Treier of the University of Cologne in Germany. "That's why the finding is so spectacular,"

The team found that in adult mice by turning off the FoxL2 gene, the ovary cells started to change testicular cells. This suggest the same effect could happen to humans.

"It was thought that you were born either female or male and then your body forgot about it," said Dr Robin Lovell-Badge, the co-author at Britain's Medical Research Council's National Institute of Medical Research.

"But this suggests that the battle of the sexes continues all the way through your life, "

The researchers believe that the process could be similar to that in some fish who are able switch sexes

Battle of the sexes - one gene keeps us either male or female, scientists find - Telegraph

The Rev · 12-14-2009, 12:34 PM

I can see it all now. A genetically engineered virus that turns everyone into men, so that the human race cannot reproduce and dies out. I wonder if marriage to porn would become legal under such circumstances...

The Rev

osirus2020 · 12-14-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev

I can see it all now. A genetically engineered virus that turns everyone into men, so that the human race cannot reproduce and dies out. I wonder if marriage to porn would become legal under such circumstances...

The Rev

I don't know, but sure sounds like an institution I can get behind

osirus2020 · 12-14-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turmaline

lol are you gay?

I was thinking in the context of a world of men, porn sounds like the next best thing.

msicidron · 12-14-2009, 03:52 PM

haha yer so gay

Stoerck · 12-19-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirus2020

I was thinking in the context of a world of men, porn sounds like the next best thing.

Yeah but if the world was only men, then all the porn would be gay porn.

Bearsy · 12-19-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoerck

Yeah but if the world was only men, then all the porn would be gay porn.

Mind = Blown

Debaser · 12-21-2009, 11:28 PM

12-14-2009, 12:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,863 Thanks: 5,015 Thanked 5,417 Times in 2,863 Posts	I can see it all now. A genetically engineered virus that turns everyone into men, so that the human race cannot reproduce and dies out. I wonder if marriage to porn would become legal under such circumstances... The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

12-14-2009, 03:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
msicidron vibing Join Date: May 2007 Location: North America Posts: 959 Thanks: 229 Thanked 157 Times in 122 Posts	haha yer so gay __________________ \|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|

12-21-2009, 11:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Debaser Baked Fresh Daily Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 1,186 Thanks: 32 Thanked 303 Times in 177 Posts	__________________ Wouldn't it be great to heal the world with only a song? Message CM47: Let's go pay some hookers to knock our junk around.

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