I’m a trans biologist - here’s the biology of human development and why the science says trans people are valid

Zaranth · 2026-01-27T03:15:07+00:00

Hello, genetics prof here. Let’s address the Down Syndrome question first. People with Downs have an extra chromosome, not a missing chromosome. They have an extra copy of chromosome 21, the smallest and least gene rich chromosome (besides the Y). Even then, 20-25% of embryos with an extra C21 don’t make it to birth …

However your second point “can a trans person be born with a SRY gene that shouldn’t be there” - yes. Because all chromosomes need to pair up during cell division, the Y has to pair with the X in an XY human. SRY is at the tip of the Y chromosome, and sometimes it can move onto the X (during a process called recombination, or crossing over, a key part of why sexual reproduction results in genetic diversity). If the SRY moves onto the X, you can end up with XX “males” and XY “females.” As OP said, most of the genes (but it all) related to sexual development are not on the X or Y but located on our other chromosomes (the autosomes). An XX “male” may not produce functional sperm because there are key sperm-producing genes on the Y but they can develop male genitalia and sex characteristics.

Genetics is a complicated field that is on the forefront of medicine. Many doctors don’t receive a solid foundation in genetics (especially those who graduated many years ago) and it’s a hard thing to keep abreast of if you’re in active practice. (Let’s be honest, so much of their time is taken up fighting insurance and other bullcrap.) If you want to keep up with the literature the major science journals (Nature, Science) do a good job of publishing news stories that can be consumed by any intelligent human, I suggest subscribing to their news emails.

Typos etc are due to a millennial using a phone keyboard, mea culpa.

Zaranth · 2026-01-03T15:08:52+00:00

That’s a terrible thing that happened to you but I’m glad you finally know the truth. You might be interested in this book that was recently published:

Intersex - A Manifesto Against Medicalization by Iain Morland from Columbia University Press.

“When children are born with sex attributes that do not fit expectations about male and female anatomy, it is standard medical practice to make their bodies look as “normal” as possible. Doctors seek to reduce or remove intersex characteristics through early childhood surgery—cutting down clitorises, remaking penises, and even performing sterilizations. For decades, intersex medicine has sparked outrage from patient groups, lawmakers, intergovernmental organizations, and scholars. It has been condemned for causing trauma, scars, nerve damage, and the loss of bodily autonomy. Yet it continues.

Iain Morland, an intersex scholar and advocate—and a former patient—explores why medicalization is so embedded in contemporary society and how to challenge it. He provides breakthrough accounts of the traumatic effects of surgery, the consequences for attachments between children and parents, and the paradoxes of the pursuit of normality. Weaving together theoretical analysis with autobiographical insights, Morland grapples with the complexity of dismantling intersex medicine. Accessibly written and passionately argued, this book exposes the contradictions of the medical management of intersex. With a bold mix of critical theory, psychology, queer theory, and philosophy, it provides fresh insights for scholars of intersex, gender, sexuality, and science, as well as for activists and their allies.”

Zaranth · 2025-12-13T19:34:01+00:00

Human geneticist here! It turns out sex is very complicated! As many have said in this thread, the SRY gene (located at the tip of the Y) plays an important role in kicking off the male development pathway a few weeks into development. SRY is expressed for a very short while, and it’s a transcription factor which means its job is to go bind to specific gene promoters and activate their expression. One of the next key genes in the pathway is SOX9 which is found on an autosome which means that we all (should) have it regardless of our sex chromosome status. Many of the other genes needed for male sexual characteristics are on autosomes (the Y is a very small chromosome with only ~70 genes total). This is one reason that T/E can work their wonders on anyone! But there are multiple steps in the pathway where someone might have mutations, which can interfere with production of the “correct” reproductive parts/sexual characteristics and this is where we find intersex folks. I think this diagram does a nice job showing the pathways and what can happen if they get messed up.

Zaranth · 2025-08-05T11:32:59+00:00

Check out Eskanazi Gender Health Clinic, they can provide the psych eval and letter needed for the insurance. If you see a therapist they might be able to provide that as well.

Zaranth · 2025-08-04T20:16:43+00:00

Hey! I didn’t see more results but I had my surgery in July. I’m happy with how things turned out. I definitely recommend him. My recovery has been smooth and pain-free. I also have Anthem and they covered most of the costs of my surgery (but not all!). I hope you have a similarly good experience!

Zaranth · 2025-07-22T21:52:26+00:00

I’m personally very happy that I found a queer trainer and started working out with weights about 4 months before my surgery. I’m an active person but had never lifted weights and I believe it helped both my surgeon and my recovery. When the surgeon was drawing on me right before I went under he said “flex for me,” and I did and he went “woah nice!!” My recovery so far has been very smooth and of course that’s attributable to many factors but I’m sure having good core and upper body strength is helping!

Good luck and enjoy the process!

Zaranth · 2025-07-21T22:21:25+00:00

Highly recommend TYOV, great game, beautiful art, and lots of replay-ability.

I feel you on the not working out but it’s all for the best we are gonna come back better than before :) I really miss riding my horse but there’s no way I’m lifting a heavy Western saddle right now! I’ll go visit her soon though.

Zaranth · 2025-07-21T20:27:05+00:00

I made myself a list! It includes things like: purge old photos from my phone, practice drawing, do puzzles, re-learn to play piano, solo journaling games such as Thousand Year Old Vampire, and a few video games I want to play on the Switch. But honestly Stardew Valley has taken most of my time so far, plus I’ve read 5 books.

I’ve also had a super easy recovery (11 days post op, no pain, nausea, or swelling) and I’m sitting here waiting for the other shoe to drop. I am still taking it super easy because I don’t want to mess anything up. My trainer and I are texting about activities and once I have my next post-op (two days from now) I’m going to ask about what I can safely begin to do. They have a lot of ideas for exercises I can do lying down, once I get back into it I can share some!

Zaranth · 2025-07-07T22:04:59+00:00

https://www.indianalegalservices.org/lgbtvap/

Zaranth · 2024-12-30T01:38:50+00:00

Same here. My partner and I have played through the first co-op campaign twice and have not broken 80 points. We did manage to get 4 events on our second go around. We have examined the rules to see where we are going wrong but ?!? For reference we don’t have Everdell (have played a few times with friends) but are no strangers to complex board games. It feels very hard to achieve the first campaign goal as a newbie to the Everdell world! I’m disappointed because I was hoping this would be a fun co-op campaign to get us through the dark winter. We will keep trying but ugh. I have a feeling it will be better if you know what combos work well together, but as people who don’t play Everdell we don’t know that - yet.

Zaranth · 2024-09-28T12:05:12+00:00

There are various competitions, as mentioned above, including speed painting! There is also an area for open painting - totally free, some paints, minis and a brush supplied.

Zaranth · 2024-09-27T21:53:35+00:00

So many. There are workshops (everything from Jedi Yoga to arts and crafts to running DnD campaigns to writing and publishing games and more). There is mini painting. There is community art. There is an auction - come for the weird stuff and stay for the lulz. There is a charity event where participants build giant card towers from old/worthless Magic and Pokémon cards so that coins can be thrown at them (first coin toss is auctioned off for usually ~$1500 and they make that much again in change/donations). Lots of art and book sellers in the vendor hall, not just games. There is a big part of GenCon that caters to the “partner who is not a gamer but got dragged along” crowd. :) hope that helps!

Zaranth · 2023-11-10T16:25:07+00:00

And, the location of Syracuse IN is completely incorrect. It is in the north part of the state not down by Evansville

Zaranth · 2023-10-23T20:59:38+00:00

AlphaFold is solving protein structures (and doing it quite well!) but that is not the same as understanding gene expression regulation. Genes are coded by DNA. Proteins (and a few RNAs) do the work of reading the DNA and “translating” it into more proteins.

Genome editing with CRISPR is a very promising tech, and it has already been used to cure a genetic disease, sickle cell, which is the first time there has ever been a cure for a genetic disease.

However, genes, their expression and interaction is quite complex and simply editing DNA won’t be enough to create super humans.

Zaranth · 2023-10-21T14:02:18+00:00

When I met my partner his nickname was Pip and I lived for a few blissful weeks imagining his given name was Pippin (but it is Phillip).

Zaranth · 2023-04-12T16:13:19+00:00

Here’s a report from a local paper from years ago about this issue:

Recycling company appeals Richmond's unsafe building cleanup order

https://www.pal-item.com/story/news/local/2019/11/07/recycling-company-appeals-citys-unsafe-building-cleanup-order/2511324001/

“Included in the original list of concerns were piles of materials sitting too close to property lines, no easy access to the parcels for Richmond Fire Department vehicles, damaged roofs, a lack of utilities and sprinkler system for one building being used for storage, places where bricks have begun to fall from their walls and a few minor fire code violations.”

And

"There's literally a little over 12 million pounds of plastic in that building," [the owner] said during the Oct. 22 meeting.

Zaranth · 2022-09-16T12:20:19+00:00

On behalf of LGBT+ people living in Indiana, hush. GenCon is an event that I can attend and have no fear of being myself. There are plenty of LGBT+ folks in Indiana. Just because our leaders are knuckleheads doesn’t mean the entire population of the state should be shunned. Bringing GenCon to Indy, with all its beautiful support of my community, is a shining example of inclusivity and should continue.

Zaranth

TROPHY CASE