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Does Gender Leave an Epigenetic Imprint on the Brain?
Laura R Cortes1, Carla D Cisternas1, Nancy G Forger1
1Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|March 16, 2019
Summary
Sex and gender are distinct concepts impacting the brain. This review explores how gender, a social construct, leaves an epigenetic imprint on the brain, distinct from biological sex.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epigenetics
- Social Biology
Background:
- The terms "sex" and "gender" are frequently conflated in common language.
- Neuroscientists distinguish sex (biological factors) from gender (social components and perceived sex).
- Epigenetic modifications in the brain are known to be influenced by environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the distinct meanings of "sex" and "gender" in a neuroscientific context.
- To explore the biological implications of gender, particularly its potential epigenetic influence on the brain.
- To present evidence supporting the conclusion that gender leaves an epigenetic imprint on the brain.
Main Methods:
- Defining key terms: sex, gender, and epigenetics.
- Reviewing existing research on sex differences in brain epigenetic mechanisms, primarily from animal studies.
- Analyzing examples of how gender, rather than sex, may influence the brain's epigenome.
Main Results:
- Research demonstrates sex differences in brain epigenetic mechanisms.
- Environmental influences, including social factors associated with gender, can epigenetically alter the brain.
- Gender, as a social construct, is proposed to leave a distinct epigenetic imprint on the brain.
Conclusions:
- Gender, separate from biological sex, logically leaves an epigenetic imprint on the brain.
- Understanding the interplay between sex, gender, and epigenetics is crucial for comprehending gene expression in the brain.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interactions shaping the brain's epigenome.
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