Biography:

Dahlstrom has criticized gender science and social science in general for not taking into account biological factors relating to behavioral differences between the sexes.

Annica Dahlstrom trained at the Karolinska Institute with Hillarp. She is presently Professor of Histology and Neurobiology at Goteborg University, where she served as pro-vice-chancellor from 1993-6. Her research interests are in axonal transport, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, synaptic vesicle proteins, Zn-containing neurons, and gender differences in anatomy and function.

She was President of the European Society for Neurochemistry (1988) and served on the board of the International Society for Neurochemistry. She has served on committees to review research and teaching proposals in Sweden and Austria and for the European Union.

Abstract:

Theme III: Social and cultural impacts of Darwinism and Evolution: Darwin clarified why mammals have 2 sexes, new science states it is all in the brain

Mammals maximize the population capacity and success by different strategies. One species can be successful by producing a lot of offspring, but the majority will not survive until reproductive age. Alternatively, a species may produce only a few offspring and instead take serious measures to defend them until adulthood. Both strategies will work in a specific environment.

For homo sapiens, the evolution of our enormous brain has given us a gigantic advantage over other mammals, our cognitive abilities that has strongly supported survival. The variation of our genetic composition is huge, not two persons on this planet have identical genetic maps. This is the most important tool for survival, since variation in genes even within a small population, will increase the chance of survival in extreme environments, from hot deserts to cold circumpolar areas. However, as may appear self evident, the most important factor for the survival of a group/society, is the success in producing and raising children and to optimize conditions to survive into adulthood. Here evolution of homo sapiens has faced a dilemma. The increased volume of our brains (4 times the size of the brain in Luzy, 2 milj of years ago) has not proceeded without sacrifice of important traits. One is that there is a limit to the size of the baby to be born, the birth canal limits the volume of the head. The birth canal could not expand beyong a point where walking and running by the female was compromized.

The dilemma was solved by ending pregnancy when the brain is very immature, and undeveloped. Such an immature individual needs many years of care and protection by parents, mainly the mother, since she is the source of nourishment. A special behaviour of the mother secured long-term care, by, as we know now, reprogramming the female brain structures into a mothers brain. Female type brains are superior to male types especially concerning communication and problem solving. Females whose genetic pattern allowed them to expose this behaviour were more successful than others, less caring females, whose genes were not carried to further generations.

Modern science has established that there are clear differences between the construction, anatomy, physiology and behaviour in male type brains and female type brains Differences have evolved since millions of years, by natural selection. Difference between sexes have been handled in various manners by culture and society, and Darwins thesis have often been misinterpreted. Society has often considered women less intelligent and even denied girls education, thereby wasting a lot of valuable cognitive capacity. Investigations since the last 3 decadees have also shown that the stucture and function of the brain is not always co-varying with the phenotype, the body. A male type brain can resice in a female body and vice versa. This new knowledge about how the brain and the body develop from fetal stage to adult will be described.