A gene variant has been discovered that may shed light on female-to-male transsexuality, scientists announced last week.

Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna have identified the variant in the gene for an enzyme, cytochrome P17, used in the metabolism of sex hormones.

Its presence is believed to lead to higher-than-average tissue levels of male and female sex hormones, which may in turn influence early brain development in utero.

The study considered DNA samples from 49 female-to-male (FTM) and 102 male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals; as well as 1669 non-transsexual control subjects.

The variant was found at similar levels in MTF transsexuals and biological men. However, there were significant differences between FTM transsexuals and biological women, with the gene variant present in 44 percent of FTM, but only 33 percent in non-trans women.

Quoted in New Scientist, researcher Clemens Tempfer said the finding raised the possibility that the variant makes women more likely to feel that their bodies do not correspond with their identified gender.

Melbourne transman Michael Mardel said this is not the first time genetic research has been carried out to determine FTM transsexuality; and added that one advantage of identifying a trans gene was that earlier gender reassignment surgery intervention could be carried out if a biologically-identified female child were to express himself as male: “It would offer some legitimacy to trans people, putting them closer to intersexed and minimising the traumas of getting one’s documents changed,” he told MCV.

However, Mardel also expressed concerns that the discovery could lead to doctors trying to ‘cure’ transsexuality.

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