DNA tells us about the past.

[We Never Know]

This isn't a debate or an argument. It also isn't meant to demean anyone. I'm just curious of the answers

With that said... DNA tells us about past living things.

No matter if you are cis-male, cis-female, transgender male, transgender female, non-binary,,,,white, black,,,,

If your skeleton were to be found 250 years after your death, what will your DNA tell about you?

 

[JDMS]

As a biologist, I find DNA to be fascinating and oh-so-important. There are times in my life when I've said that when it comes down to it, "everything is chemistry". But I also understand that this is rather reducing, and it dismisses even my own life experiences.

If someone found my bones (which they most likely won't, since I plan on being cremated), they may be a bit confused by what they see. They may see a typical female bone structure, with perhaps denser bone patterns that'd be typical of a male.

But what they won't see, is every thought or experience that made me who I am. They won't know about the spelling bee I won in elementary school, or the way I held onto my sister's shoulders when I hugged her. They won't see the joy I experienced when I drove a car for the first time, or the way I smiled after taking a bite of tiramisu. They won't find any marks showing the mental suffering I endured in my lifetime, nor will they find any evidence of my gratitude towards the people in my life. They won't find any evidence of the way I passionately talked about DNA, either. They will have no idea that they are looking at another man who loved the sciences as they love it.

They will just see bones.

And I will be long gone, too.

I don't really bother myself with the idea of how my corpse will present itself after death. Instead, I'm much more interested in the people who care about me and know me as I am today, in the flesh, alive.

 

[We Never Know]

As a biologist, I find DNA to be fascinating and oh-so-important. There are times in my life when I've said that when it comes down to it, "everything is chemistry". But I also understand that this is rather reducing, and it dismisses even my own life experiences.

If someone found my bones (which they most likely won't, since I plan on being cremated), they may be a bit confused by what they see. They may see a typical female bone structure, with perhaps denser bone patterns that'd be typical of a male.

But what they won't see, is every thought or experience that made me who I am. They won't know about the spelling bee I won in elementary school, or the way I held onto my sister's shoulders when I hugged her. They won't see the joy I experienced when I drove a car for the first time, or the way I smiled after taking a bite of tiramisu. They won't find any marks showing the mental suffering I endured in my lifetime, nor will they find any evidence of my gratitude towards the people in my life. They won't find any evidence of the way I passionately talked about DNA, either. They will have no idea that they are looking at another man who loved the sciences as they love it.

They will just see bones.

And I will be long gone, too.

I don't really bother myself with the idea of how my corpse will present itself after death. Instead, I'm much more interested in the people who care about me and know me as I am today, in the flesh, alive.

Useful frube, Informative frube and Winner frube.


Will the DNA and bone structure be confusing?

 

[JDMS]

Useful frube, Informative frube and Winner frube.


Will the DNA and bone structure be confusing?

Hmm. I'd imagine they'd determine I was female, but they may be able to see the differences in my bones after years of testosterone, given what the current research shows. I'm not sure what they'd make of that, since I'm not educated enough to be sure, but they may find it confusing without knowing my medical history. Not sure.

:friendly frube:

 

[We Never Know]

Hmm. I'd imagine they'd determine I was female, but they may be able to see the differences in my bones after years of testosterone, given what the current research shows. I'm not sure what they'd make of that, since I'm not educated enough to be sure, but they may find it confusing without knowing my medical history. Not sure.

:friendly frube:

That's kinda my thinking. If Mary used to be Mike and for whatever reason(lets say for science study) was exhumed 200 years later. Wouldn't they think why does the headstone say Mary when the DNA shows male.

Yeah, I think of some different things sometimes. Boredom does that lol

 

[JDMS]

That's kinda my thinking. If Mary used to be Mike and for whatever reason(lets say for science study) was exhumed 200 years later. Wouldn't they think why does the headstone say Mary when the DNA shows male.

Yeah, I think of some different things sometimes. Boredom does that lol

I think those people look at a lot of things. I did a quick Google search and found this; "Transgender" Skeleton.
I obviously have no way of knowing whether this person was transgender or intersex, but it seems like the archeologists suspected they might have been simply because of the way they were buried. That's without any names or anything. Very interesting.

So, to answer your question, I think they may look at the incongruence on the gravestone (assuming they are aware "Mary" is a feminine name) and any remaining clothes on the body or inside the casket, and perhaps hypothesize that the individual was transgender or intersex or something else.

And they always have the chance to be wrong, just like the above link could be wrong and they just don't know the context behind the burial. Or maybe they are right. I guess we'll never know for sure.

 

[JDMS]

That's kinda my thinking. If Mary used to be Mike and for whatever reason(lets say for science study) was exhumed 200 years later. Wouldn't they think why does the headstone say Mary when the DNA shows male.

Yeah, I think of some different things sometimes. Boredom does that lol

Sorry for the double post.

Another thing I didn't even consider was facial-feminization surgeries. So they may be able to tell someone was a transgender woman by the markings on their skull if they've had the surgery. This wouldn't apply to most trans men, though, as facial masculinization is very rare since testosterone can usually masculinize the face more efficiently than estrogen can feminize a face. I believe testosterone will actually thicken the brow bone in younger transgender men who begin taking testosterone during their normal puberty. In adults, though, it's mostly fat redistribution that masculinizes the face.

 

[We Never Know]

Sorry for the double post.

Another thing I didn't even consider was facial-feminization surgeries. So they may be able to tell someone was a transgender woman by the markings on their skull if they've had the surgery. This wouldn't apply to most trans men, though, as facial masculinization is very rare since testosterone can usually masculinize the face more efficiently than estrogen can feminize a face. I believe testosterone will actually thicken the brow bone in younger transgender men who begin taking testosterone during their normal puberty. In adults, though, it's mostly fat redistribution that masculinizes the face.

"Sorry for the double post"

No sorry needed. I appreciate your replies

 

[JDMS]

"Sorry for the double post"

No sorry needed. I appreciate your replies

Your post has taught me a thing or two, as well. I never really put thought into how archeologists would be able to identify a transgender person from their skeletons. Apparently, it seems there are several ways, I've just never thought about it much.

:friendly frube: