Originally posted by torsionbar28
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That is, a mistake of brain development, the neurons in that area of the brain screwed up in reading DNA and thought they were of the wrong gender. Genome allows this as most of its code is the same for both genders but has some switches that are turned on or off depending on other factors (usually hormones). Just look at transgender people that were accepted early enough to get a hormone treatment when they were adolescents, they are not distinguishable from an individual born with that gender.
While it's not well-understood in this case, most fetal development happens in blocks of cells that follow a single leader cell that does this DNA check (not just for gender). This means if this cell screws up, the error cascades through all those that were listening to it. This would easily explain the above.
It's better like this because given how often this system screws up (not just for gender identity issues and not just for brain, but just look at how much homosexual and transgender people came out of the closet in the last 20 years if you want some numbers, this system isn't terribly accurate), if you let any cell decide for itself you'd get way too much cells that go the wrong way.
The above means that any attempt to "cure" this condition is pretty much a lost cause unless it is something that can somehow change gender identity (and/or sexual orientation) in everyone else too, as that person is not ill but has a part of the brain that was formed as if it was of the other gender.
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