A01 role of genes and hormones Flashcards
What are the 2 sections for role of genes and hormones
Role of genes in general development
Role of hormones in gender development
Briefly explain role of genes in gender development
Each person has 23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell that carry thousands of genes
Sex chromosomes determine the individuals biological sex
Usually there’s a direct link between an individual’s sex chromosomes (biological sex) and their external genitalia
During prenatal development, all individuals start out the same (external genitalia that look feminine)
3 months in, the foetus, if develops as a male, the testes produce testosterone which causes external male genitalia to develop
Genetic transmission explains how in divs acquire their sex. Can also explain some aspects of gender due to link between genes and genitalia and hormones
Intro for the role if hormones in gender dev
Hormones play the bigger role in determing gender dev than gebes/sex chromosomes
Hormones are produced prematurely and during puberty
They influence dev of genitalia and brain, bith of which influence gender dev
2 sections for role of hormones in gender dev
Development of genitalia
Brain dev
Talk about dev of genitalia
Role of hormones in gender dev can be seen by studying unisex individuals
These indvs would be prenatal exposed to abnormal hormone levels
Genetic males who are exposed to too little testosterone prenatal may appear physically feminine (AIS)
Same applies with females with too much testosterone.
2 subsections for brain dev
Sex differences explained
Animal studies
Who tested sex differences
Hoag
Galaburda and geschwind
What did hoag find
Differences between male and female brains
Females tend to be better at social skills, males better at spatial navigation
What did Galaburda et al do and find
Such differences may be due to the hormones the in divs were exposed to . Males are exposed prenatal to more male hormones
If female is exposed to too much male hormones steel develop a brain similar to boys.
This explains why some people felt by even though they were raised as a girl
Also explain reason why girls can be tomboys
Who tested animal studies
Quadagno
What did quadagno do and find
Confirmed hormone effects by studying animals
Female monkeys who are exposed to more males hormone prenatally were more rough and aggressive during play than those who weren’t
