Courtesy of Jahnna Rymer:
Source :Science
Title: A delicate balance of sexual identity
By: Gretchen Vogel
The difference between male and female is smaller than imagined on a cellular level. Rearchers have found that they can change ovary cells into testicular cells in mice by turning off a single gene. This discovery is the basis for new insights into the evolution of sex differences, and it may help doctors better understands sexual identity disorders and why some women go through early menopause.
It is known that the gene responsible for the fate switch, called Foxl2, was important to ovarian cells. Recent experiments with the gene have led to confusing results; female mice lacking the gene developed perfectly normal ovaries. After birth, however, the animals' ovaries started to deteriorate. But it was not clear what was going wrong. In order to find out what was wrong, scientists developed genetically engineered a mouse in which they could selectively turn off the Foxl2 gene in adult ovaries. With the gene inactive, a dramatic change took place in the female mice. Within 3 weeks, their ovaries were full of tube like structures usually found in testicle tissue. Researchers found that the ovarian cells were displaying the characteristics of several types of testicle cells although there was no sperm present.
Foxl2, it seems, is part of a larger genetic pathway that controls the identity of cells in the ovaries and testis. The researchers found that the protein made by the gene suppresses the activity of another gene called Sox9, which prompts the development of testicular cells. The study might create a pathway for researchers studying early ovarian failure, which causes some women to undergo early menopause. And it may also help explain why some children develop sexual characteristics that don't match their chromosomal gender.
This is an important research because it may lead to better understanding of many health issues that are currently affecting women as well as better understanding the human body and its complexity. This will bring new knowledge and broaden our view and knowledge of the people that surround us.
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I think it's amazing how researchers can experiment new techniques for gene's with mice. I kind of don't think the same process should be used on humans. I think humans would have an immediate reaction to the changing of anything in their anatomy. I don't think it would take as long as 3 weeks to see a differenc in anything. If the same experiment was tested on humans would they really lose or gain another sexual organ? Would that change the gender of the person? If it would than it would be a lot easier for people to get a sex change.
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