Biochemical-Evolutionary Nexus of Gender Dysphoria: Integration of the Meyer-Powers Hypothesis with Nutritional Deficiencies, Genetic Mutations, Sociocultural Influences, and Population Dynamics

This paper explores the Meyer-Powers Syndrome (MPS) hypothesis as a unifying framework for
understanding gender dysphoria (GD), particularly in individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) with
female gender identification. Grounded in biochemical, genetic, and evolutionary perspectives, we
propose that GD represents an adaptive “safety valve” – an evolutionary mechanism prioritizing survival
and inclusive fitness over individual reproduction in suboptimal conditions. The purpose of every life
form is reproduction; an organism is biologically successful if it sustains its lineage and does not go
extinct. If an organism behaves in a way that avoids reproduction, it is individually unsuccessful but can
contribute to the success of the community’s genes through support to the community or prospective
individuals, echoing Hamilton’s rule of inclusive fitness (rB > C). Historical examples, such as eunuchs in
Chinese dynasties (Shang to Qing), illustrate this “safety valve”: castrated men, individually non-
reproductive, became key advisors and guardians, ensuring dynastic stability and the propagation of
ruling elites’ genes, with psychological effects of castration, such as heightened loyalty, reduced libido,
and emotional stability directed toward hierarchy, making them “perfect servants.” Similar examples in
India (hijras as a third gender), ancient Egypt (eunuchs in harems), and African tribes (ritual castration for
spiritual roles) demonstrate the universality of this adaptive mechanism, where GD individuals have
historically played indispensable roles in society, contributing to its cohesion and progress. Key elements
include MTHFR and VDR polymorphisms disrupting folate and vitamin D metabolism, leading to
estrogen-testosterone signaling discordance; hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) as a comorbid
connective tissue disorder amplifying body incongruence; and evolutionary precedents in hunter-
gatherer societies where malnutrition prompted shifts toward non-reproductive roles. We integrate
Calhoun’s “Mouse Utopia” experiments to illustrate how resource abundance paradoxically leads to
social collapse and reduced reproduction, reflecting contemporary fertility decline trends in Western
civilizations (offset by immigration). Additionally, we examine sociocultural amplifiers, such as the role of
media marketing narratives in amplifying transient dysphoria during puberty, endocrine disruptors (EDCs)from plastics and pollution, and hypothetical scenarios of population control through EDCs (without
evidence of intentional actions but as a serious possibility nations should consider without ridicule to
protect national interests, including future considerations of contamination in children’s diets). We
discuss the indoctrination of psychologists through education, where institutional bias creates
“brainwashed soldiers,” and evidence that hormonal/surgical treatments harm children more than they
benefit (e.g., reduced fertility by 30-50%, doubled suicide risk). This synthesis challenges reductionist
views, calling for interdisciplinary interventions that mitigate dysphoria while respecting cultural
harmony and individual resilience. Implications for psychologists, physicians, geneticists, biochemists,
and evolutionists are discussed, emphasizing evolutionary biosustainability and the need to return to the
biological purpose of life: lineage sustainability through adaptive, not maladaptive, mechanisms. Overall,
MPS proposes that GD is not merely a psychosocial phenomenon but a multifactorial response to
environmental and genetic stressors, with GD prevalence rising to 0.6% of adults in the U.S. in 2024, and
3.3% of high school students identifying as transgender or nonbinary.