4.3. Atypical Sex Chromosomes Flashcards
What are the typical sex chromosome patterns?
XX- female
XY - male
How many males does Klinefelters affect?
1 in 750
What is Klinefelters caused by?
An extra ‘x’ chromsome (XXY)
How is Klinefelters identified?
Usually through a routine medical check as it isn’t physically noticable
What are the physical characteristics of Klinefelters?
- Reduced body hair
- Develops small breasts at puberty
- Long and gangly limbs
What are the psychological characteristics of Klinefelters?
- Poor language skills
- Poor memory
- Passive and shy
- Poor reading
How many people does Turners affect?
1 in 5000 females
What causes Turners?
Missing the 2nd ‘x’ chromosome so they only have 45 chromosomes at birth
What are the physical characteristics of Turners?
- Broad shield chest
- Don’t develop ovaries - no menstrual cycle
- Webbed neck
- Physically immature
What are the psychological characteristics of Turners?
- Higher reading ability
- Low spatial, visual and math skill
- Socially immature and have few friends
Strength: comparison of typical and atypical sex chromosomes
Comparing typical and atypical patterns develops our understanding of physical and psychological differences that biology has influenced on people.
This develops our understanding of the impact nature has on sex and gender in the differences in people.
Strength: Earlier identification
This research has led to earlier identification which has led to treatment/ methods to think.
Those that were identified as having atypical sex chromosome patterns had significant benefits to those identified in adulthood.
This improves the quality of life as these conditions can affect people psychologically (ie school support SEN)
Weakness: environmental vs biological influence
Social immaturity can be an environmental influence rather than biological
e.g. girls with Turners may become socially isolated during puberty
Therefore, we cannot assume the physical and psychological differences are just nature.
Weakness: not representative
All research on Klinefelters is based on 33% of males with Klinefelters- therefore it’s not representative of the condition many males experience, there may be fewer differences.
