Researchers have identified hundreds of genes that are switched on and off differently in the male and female brains, a finding which suggests that many behaviour patterns regarded as typical of each sex could be founded on nature and nurture.
According to the researchers, dozens of mental traits and skills differ between men and women. They include empathy, aggression, risk-taking, navigation and the qualities that are valued most in a sexual partner.
Moreover, men and women also differ in their approach to finding sexual partners. Men generally place a higher value on youth and good looks, while women are often more attracted by status, the study found.
In fact, while the two sexes have the same basic genes, many of these are more active in the brains of only one sex. These gender-specific patterns of gene expression could affect many aspects of behaviour.
