Sean Mulcahy

IT Professional for way too long. Taking pictures when I can here

[Sean Mulcahy @zeneasy]

@zsk I’m slowly unfollowing people here when they start posting more on BlueSky and Threads, where I am also following them.

[Sean Mulcahy @zeneasy]

@hadleybeeman @charlesarthur Maybe the way forward is to define an NHS API that all vendors for IT must comply with in order to provide applications. That can then be the common language to pass data between everyone.

[Mark Hammond @MarkHam80780803]

“Let’s swim to Holland and steal some drugs.”

[Carole Hooven @hoovlet]

I posted yesterday about 5-ARD, a disorder (or difference) of sex development. I don't think anything I've posted here has ever received more attention (millions of views, over 10K likes, and rising, media inquiries, which I've turned down).

First: why didn't I mention that I have a book for anyone interested in sex differences, testosterone, DSDs, etc.? Did not occur to me. Dumb, I know. But it's a great book! Go buy it! It's called T: the Story of Testosterone, the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us. https://t.co/dydr5JGZXL

Second: I know I could have written more concisely, but I wanted to get relevant info out there on this particular DSD, in a way that is interesting (to me) and accurate. I love all the detailed stuff, and like 10 other people do too, so that's what I included.

Third: I don't know what condition any boxers who probably shouldn't be competing in the female category have. I provided info on one condition that fits the info I do have (athletes with XY chromosomes, an apparent significant advantage in strength and power, not identifying as transgender, competing in the female category), and which is relatively common in these rare situations.

And fourth. Some people were confused about various aspects of this DSD, which is understandable, since my tweet about it was too long for most people to read carefully (or even finish), and I used language and concepts that non-scientists might not be used to. But if you're interested, here's what I hope is some clarifying info. Yes it's detailed!

Males with 5-ARD do not have a uterus or other female internal structures, but they do have what looks like a vagina, so are often sexed as females. However they are males with normal testes, which produce typical male hormones. Those hormones, among other things, prevent the development of female internal reproductive structures (like the uterus and cervix).

In embryonic development, we all start out with two sets of primordial duct systems, one set that will develop into the male internal reproductive stuff (the Wolffian ducts, which become the epididymis, vas deferens and seminal vesicles), and another that develops into the female internal stuff (the Müllerian ducts, which become the upper part of the vagina, cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes, pic at the end).

In males, fetal testes don't only produce testosterone! They also make Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), which is crucial for getting rid of the Mullerian ducts, and thus, ensuring that the eventual uterus, etc. don't develop. If there's no testes and no AMH, that female internal stuff will develop.

Males need high levels of T for male-typical development of all the male reproductive structures. Without T production and action, the external (penis and scrotum) and internal (described above) genitalia won't develop. But as I wrote in my monster tweet yesterday, T alone isn't enough for development of the penis and scrotum (and prostate): for that, T must be converted into DHT (a more potent androgen, production pathway below), and people with 5-ARD don't make the necessary enzyme to carry out that conversion. So they end up with what appears to be a vagina.

FYI, some males inherit a genetic mutation that means they can't produce AMH. They are typical males, but have a nonfunctional uterus and fallopian tubes inside their abdomen. The condition often not discovered until adulthood (it's called Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome). AMH is an important hormone for males, but hardly anyone even knows it exists.

Also, the testes generally don't descend into the scrotum before birth (as usual) without DHT, but they often do at puberty when testosterone levels reach high concentrations. So males with 5-ARD may be "sexed" as female, due to the female-appearing external genitalia.

But brain and the rest of the body are typically male. Most people with the condition will "transition" to living as a male once they realize they are male, and this often happens at puberty, when the testes descend and the body develops in a typically masculine way.

[Sean Mulcahy @zeneasy]

@zsk @BBCr4today Caught the end of this (sorry) and heard you being asked if we should have an analogue backup, e.g. cash. Would the same be said for electricity? Should we keep a steam engine handy? Need to think of IT systems as infrastructure and treat it in the same way.

[Zoe Kleinman @zsk]

Here's my take on today's IT chaos so far:
https://t.co/WlCvVoyqUF

[Gary O'Donoghue @BBCBlindGazza]

Here’s my view of what happened in Pennsylvania last night. Just my impressions as one reporter at one point in time.
https://t.co/jolMqMKxJw

[The Exploding Heads @Exploding_Heads]

Last 14 years summed up

[Harry Wallop @hwallop]

🗳️ 🍷 Hugely enjoying @MattChorley’s Election Night drinking game.
https://t.co/ys3ubziqzM

[Jonathan Pie @JonathanPieNews]

Election Special 4: The Conservatives.

[Otto English @Otto_English]

Oates was an Old Etonian who paid £1000 to go on the expedition.

Utterly incompetent leadership obliged him to sacrifice himself

Subsequently the entire polar team died so it was a futile act.

Comparisons with the Conservative party are not invited at this time.

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

URGENT! Pls share. The last chance to register to vote in the General Election is 11.59pm tomorrow Tue 18 June. Potentially 8m aren't registered at their current address. Here's 4 key facts...

1) You can do it online here https://t.co/i4FhJoAXfK
2) It's good for your finances. Not being on electoral roll can make it more difficult to be accepted for credit products like bank accounts or mortgages.
3) You can opt out of the 'Open Register' (which allows your info to be sold on) which will stop you getting junk mail marketing )
4) You'll need ID when you do vote (not to register) if you don't have it, you can get it free until Wed 26 June https://t.co/9bfL3hw3CV

[The Critic @TheCriticMag]

The coming parliamentary thrashing of the Conservative Party is a punishment that entirely fits the crime, argues @RobDotHutton https://t.co/5WsacZsMLu

[Jim Waterson @jimwaterson]

TV ratings, 8pm last night

BBC1 - Rishi Sunak interview - 1.4m
BBC2 - Springwatch - 1.5m
ITV - Corrie - 3.5m
Channel 4 - Bake Off - 1.2m
Channel 5 - Motorway Cops - 1m

[BBC Archive @BBCArchive]

#OnThisDay 1969: Blue Peter featured a traditional dance by the Dagestan National Dance Company.

Come for the dancing, stay for the sword fighting.

[David @belfastDGM]

317, if you include Rishi.

[Ben Kentish @BenKentish]

“Can you give me a lift to ITV?”

[Charles Arthur @charlesarthur]

Amazing, amazing work by the PA photographer. Increasingly looks like Sunak’s team properly hates him. Or has never met even faintly adversarial photographers and journalists before.

[Charles Arthur @charlesarthur]

Once you imagine Rishi Sunak as Lord Farquaad you can never unsee it.