History Main / WrongGeneticSex

* In one episode of ''Series/{{House}}'', a woman turns out to be suffering from testicular cancer, due to a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen_insensitive surprisingly common medical condition]] (especially [[http://www.secondtype.info/ais.htm among supermodels]] that causes some people with XY chromosomes to develop into infertile women with internal testicles instead of ovaries.

* In one episode of ''Series/{{House}}'', a woman turns out to be suffering from testicular cancer, due to a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen_insensitive surprisingly common medical condition]] that causes some people with XY chromosomes to develop into infertile women with internal testicles instead of ovaries.
** The fact that this condition is over represented among supermodels is actually TruthInTelevision [[http://www.secondtype.info/ais.htm]].

* In one episode of ''{{House}}'', a woman turns out to be suffering from testicular cancer, due to a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen_insensitive surprisingly common medical condition]] that causes some people with XY chromosomes to develop into infertile women with internal testicles instead of ovaries.

* The human body is physically female by "default" during the very early stages of development; in the case of men what turns that female body into a male body is the action of testosterone in the womb, however, there's a rare condition called Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome in which a resistance to testosterone causes a person with one X chromosome and one Y chromosome develop as a female (although sterile).

* Kyoko, the protagonist of one of the arcs of ""LevelE'', is found to be one, Unfortunately, that might spell the end of Mankind (long story).

* In one episode of ''{{House}}'', a woman turns out to be suffering from testicular cancer, due to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen_insensitive surprisingly common medical condition]] that causes some people with XY chromosomes to develop into infertile women with internal testicles instead of ovaries.

* In TheDayOfRevolution, the supposedly male protagonist discovers in the first chapter that he is intersexed and genetically female. Despite some misgivings and with a push from her parents she decides to reinvent herself as a girl. HilarityEnsues.

The whole issue of gender identity aside, anything that interferes with fetal development can cause various degrees of feminization or masculinization ranging from people who are genetically XY and physically female to people who are genetically XX and physically male to people who are intersex and don't have a clear physical gender at all. There is also a phenomenon called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(genetics) chimerism]]'' which can cause different parts of the body to have different DNA, meaning DNA from someone's blood or saliva (the most common sources for DNA tests) may not match DNA from other parts of their bodies, which for fictional purposes usually means hair, skin or semen.

* In one episode of ''[[CrimeSceneInvestigation CSI]]'', a DNA sample with female chromosomes turned out to belong to a male character. He was a post-operation trans man and it wasn't known that he had been born female-bodied.

* In ''EarthMaidenArjuna'', one of the female ecology activists is suffering from this, with the implication that it was the result of the polluted environment.

* The human body is the one of the woman by "default"; in the case of men what turns that female body into a male body is the action of testosterone in fetus, however, there's a rare disease in which a resistance to testosterone cause that a person with one X chromosome and one Y chromosome develop as a woman (although sterile).

** Cal also meets a woman with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen_insensitive Androgen insensitivity syndrome]], which basically means she's genetically male with the body of infertile female. Despite being able to come across as a woman, she strongly identifies herself as a {{hermaphrodite}} and is an intersex rights activist.

The whole issue of gender identity aside, the default form of most mammals is female, so anything that interferes with fetal development can result in various degrees of feminization ranging from people who are physically female without being genetically XX to people who are intersex and don't have a clear physical gender. This can also be caused by ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(genetics) chimerism]]'' which can cause different parts of the body to have different DNA. In these cases the DNA in their saliva (the most common source for DNA tests) may not match the DNA from other parts of their bodies, which for fictional purposes usually means their hair, skin, blood, or sex organs.

In fiction, this usually pops up in various kinds of detective stories and is used as a excuse to make a DNA test into a RedHerring. It can also be a source of drama or simply a character quirk. The actual cause is likely to be HandWaved or just glossed over. {{Transsexual}}s are covered by their own trope but may also fall under Wrong Genetic Sex if the plot hinges on the difference between their chromosomes and their appearance. Intersex people may also be included under similar circumstances. However, only individuals count: If an entire population is intersex, then it's a OneGenderRace.

See also {{Hermaphrodite}}, which may overlap but is in many cases a distinct phenomenon. The word hermaprhodite was once used as a medical term for this condition, but that usage was not strictly accurate and is now considered perjorative.

The whole issue of gender identity aside, the default form of most mammals is female, so anything that interferes with fetal development can result in various degrees of feminization ranging from people who are physically female without being genetically XX to people who are intersex and don't have a clear physical gender. Genetic causes range from multiple sex chromosomes (XXY, XYY, etc) to varying degrees of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(genetics) chimerism]]'' causing different parts of the body to have different DNA. In these cases the DNA in their saliva (the most common source for DNA tests) may not match the DNA from other parts of their bodies, which for fictional purposes usually means their hair,skin, blood, or sex organs.

The whole issue of gender identity aside, the default form of most mammals is female, so anything that interferes with fetal development can result in various degrees of feminization ranging from people who are physically female without being genetically XX to people who are intersex and don't have a clear physical gender. Genetic causes range from multiple sex chromosomes (XXY, XYY, etc) to varying degrees of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(genetics) chimerism]]'' causing different parts of the body to have different DNA. In these cases the DNA in their saliva (the most common source for DNA tests) may not match the DNA in their skin or gametes. Chimerism sometimes results in intersex as well.

* In one episode of ''LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'', the episode starts with a rapist getting killed by his victim. The detectives have DNA evidence that among other thing shows that the person they are looking for is a man. He turns out to be a teenage boy, but he also turn out to have an alibi. It is then discovered that it was really his twin "sister", and that she is really his twin brother. The doctors botched his circumcision when he was a little boy, and covered their tracks by tricking his parents into agreeing on forcing a gender change operation on the kid and then trying to convince him he's a girl.
** Sadly, this is actually TruthInTelevision: The episode is based on a real case. Just like the character in the episode, the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Reimer real man]] violently reverted to a male gender identity as soon as he got the chance. Sadly, the real man ended up killing himself [[spoiler: instead of killing [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Money the doctor]] like his fictional counterpart in SVU did]].

* In one episode of ''[[CrimeSceneInvestigation CSI]]'', a DNA sample with the female chromosome setup turned out to belong to a male character. He was a post-operation trans man, and it wasn't known that he had been born female-bodied.

* Chimerism has been found to be the cause of rare, seemingly impossible coat colors in both dogs and horses; one noted example was appeared to be a stallion but was found to have a blend of stallion and mare DNA.

Most people who have passed grade school know that men have X and Y chromosomes while women have two X chromosomes. However, in RealLife it's not always that simple.

The whole issue of gender identity aside, there are people who are biologically female without being genetically XX, intersex people who don't even ''have'' a clear biological (or even genetic) sex, and so on.

In fiction, this usually pops up in various kinds of detective stories and is used as a excuse to make a DNA test into a RedHerring. It can also be a source of drama or simply a character quirk, but in the later case, {{transsexual}}s are covered by their own trope.

Thus, transsexuals are only included in Wrong Genetic Sex when their chromosomes or similar cause an investigation problem, while intersex people are included under other circumstances too. However, only individuals count: If an entire population is intersex, then it's a OneGenderRace.

See also {{Hermaphrodite}}, which often overlaps but is in many cases a distinct phenomenon.

* In TheDayOfRevolution, the supposedly male protagonist finds out in the first chapter that she is genetically female. Despite some misgivings and with a push from her parents, she decides to become her genetic sex. HilarityEnsues.

* The character from RobertHeinlein's ''AllYouZombies'', who starts out as an intersex female and...it gets complicated.

* In one episode of ''{{House}}'', a woman turns out to suffer from testicle cancer. She's really a woman, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen_insensitive but one of those infertile women who have testicles instead of a uterus]].
* This is a major plot point in an episode of ''FreaksAndGeeks'', when Ken's new girlfriend Amy tells her she's one of these. There was no DNA or anything - the conflict came from her getting upset at Ken telling his friends her big secret.

The whole issue of gender identity aside, there are people who are biologically female without being genetically XX, intersexual people who don't even ''have'' a clear biological (or even genetic) sex, and so on.

Thus, transsexuals are only included in Wrong Genetic Sex when their chromosomes or similar cause an investigation problem, while intersexuals are included under other circumstances too. However, only individuals count: If an entire population is intersexual, then it's a OneGenderRace.

* The character from RobertHeinlein's ''AllYouZombies'', who starts out as an intersex female and... it gets complicated.
* Calliope (later Cal) from the book ''{{Middlesex}}'' was born intersexed (genetically XY) and raised female until the age of fourteen.

* In one episode of ''LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'', the episode starts with a rapist getting killed by his victim. The detectives have DNA evidence that among other thing shows that the person they are looking for is a man. He turns out to be a teenage boy, but he also turn out to have an alibi. It is then discovered that it was really his twin sister, and that she is really his twin brother. The doctors botched his circumcision when he was a little boy, and covered their tracks by tricking his parents into agreeing on forcing a gender change operation on the kid and then trying to convince him he's a girl.

* In one episode of ''[[CrimeSceneInvestigation CSI]]'', a DNA sample with the female chromosome setup turned out to belong to a male character. He was a post-operation FTM (Female To Male) transexual, and it wasn't known that he had been born as a woman.

* In TheDayOfRevolution, the supposedly male protagonist finds out in the first chapter that she is genetically female. Despite some misgivings and a push from her parents, she decides to become her genetic sex. HilarityEnsues.

* In DayOfRevolution, the supposedly male protagonist finds out in the first chapter that she is genetically female. Despite some misgivings and a push from her parents, she decides to become her genetic sex. HilarityEnsues.

* In one episode of ''{{House}}'', a woman turns out to suffer from testicle cancer. She's really a woman, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen_insensitive but one of those infertile women who have testicles instead of uterus]].

* In "DayOfRevolution", the supposedly male protagonist finds out in the first chapter that she is genetically female. Despite some misgivings and a push from her parents, she decides to become her genetic sex. HilarityEnsues.

** Sadly, this is actually TruthInTelevision: The episode is based on a real case. Just like the character in the episode, the real man violently reverted to a male gender identity as soon as he got the chance. Sadly, the real man ended up killing himself [[spoiler: instead of killing the doctor like his fictional counterpart in SVU did]].

* In ''EarthMaidenArjuna'', one of the female ecology activists is suffering from this, and a GreenAesop is involved.
** How do you make a GreenAesop out of nature screwing up...?
** {{Anime}}.
** Or, simply, that the intersexualism was a side effect of pollution? Big bad industry plant release chemicals that forces nature to screw up?

Most people who have passed grade school know that a man have XY chromosomes while a woman have XX chromosomes. However, in RealLife it's not always that simple.

Thus, transsexuals are only included in Wrong Genetic Sex when their chromosomes or similar causes a investigation problem, while intersexuals are included under other circumstances too. However, only individuals counts: If a entire population is intersexual, that's OneGenderRace instead.