Great wide-ranging conversation, so wonderful to hear from Malcolm Clark! Near the end of the public interview, Malcolm states that while scientists have been looking for a gene for trans or some different of the brain that explains cross-sex identification, nonetheless he would not be surprised if a gene or brain difference were to be d…
Great wide-ranging conversation, so wonderful to hear from Malcolm Clark! Near the end of the public interview, Malcolm states that while scientists have been looking for a gene for trans or some different of the brain that explains cross-sex identification, nonetheless he would not be surprised if a gene or brain difference were to be discovered. As someone who studied evolutionary biology in college I have to say that I would be very surprised indeed. Any gene or set of genes that predispose an individual to cross-sex identification would surely also impact their "reproductive success" unless the expression of that gene/set of genes is delayed until after the individual has already had ample time to reproduce. In that case the affected individual would be unaware of their cross-sex "gender identity" until well into adulthood. This in turn would suggest that gender identity cannot emerge in children.
Great wide-ranging conversation, so wonderful to hear from Malcolm Clark! Near the end of the public interview, Malcolm states that while scientists have been looking for a gene for trans or some different of the brain that explains cross-sex identification, nonetheless he would not be surprised if a gene or brain difference were to be discovered. As someone who studied evolutionary biology in college I have to say that I would be very surprised indeed. Any gene or set of genes that predispose an individual to cross-sex identification would surely also impact their "reproductive success" unless the expression of that gene/set of genes is delayed until after the individual has already had ample time to reproduce. In that case the affected individual would be unaware of their cross-sex "gender identity" until well into adulthood. This in turn would suggest that gender identity cannot emerge in children.