Chromosomes and Hormones Flashcards
Chromosomes determine
Determine sex
Chromosomes
23 pairs with last being the sex chromosome
XX = female
XY = male
Y = set determining region which causes testes to develop
Hormones trigger
Gender development
What do hormones do?
Trigger growth of reproductive organs
- have a second burst at puberty when you develop secondary sexual charactersistcs
Levels of hormones in the genders
Same kind of hormones but different levels
Female hormones
Oestrogen and Oxcytocin
Oestrogen
- controls female sexual characteristics + menstruation
- linked to emotionality and irritability (PMT)
Oxcytocin
- love hormone
- triggers bond between mother and child after birth
- low levels in men but equal during intimacy
Male hormones are called
Androgens
Testosterone
- produced from 8 weeks
- controls development of male sex organs
- linked to aggression
Testosterone study
VAN DE POLL ET AL = female rats injected with testosterone became more physically and sexually aggressive
AO3 + case study
DAVID REIMER
born a twin boy, socialised as a girl but ultimately biology and nature proved stronger
HOWEVER
- case study
- could have identified with twin brother as saw as role model
AO3 + research support
WANG ET AL
- 227 hypogonado men (small testes) given testosterone for 180 days
- changes in body shapre, muscle growth, sexual functions, and libido
HOWEVER
- could feel more masculine so conform to the social roles
AO3 - research
OCONNOR = adult males given testosterone or placebo
- no changes seen in agression, behaviour, or sexual function
- double blind so no investigator effects
AO3 - I+D
- biological reductionism
- overemphasises nature - greater differences within sexes than between
