Chromosomes and Hormones (Genes, structure, hormones, including 2 intersex conditions)

Question 1

what does the male chromosome look like?

Answer 1

XY

Question 2

what does the female chromosome look like?

Answer 2

XX

Question 3

what does the Y chromosome contian?

Answer 3

the SRY gene

Question 4

what is the SRY gene?

Answer 4

sex determining region Y protein, this is a trsanscript factor that binds to dna to control other genes, an epigenetic change

Question 5

what happens to the foetus looks like for the first few weeks?

Answer 5

looks the same regardless

Question 6

when does sex organ development start?

Answer 6

a few weeks after conception

Question 7

how does sex development happen?

Answer 7

When the foetus is about three months old, if it is to develop as a male, the testes produce testosterone which causes external male genitalia to develop as the testes have lydic cells which respond to lutropin by prodicing test. which further drives male development.

Question 8

Kleinfelters syndrome

Answer 8

affects 1 in 10,000 males,
XXY
child is born with penis and develops male traits
characteristics include
- infertility
- lacks muscle definition
- has feminised masculine features, eg. slim jawline, less facial hair and slight breast tissue

Question 9

turners syndrome

Answer 9

1 in 2000 females
X0, missing or damaged second chromosome
born with both vagina and womb but underdeveloped ovaries
characteristics include
- no monthly period
physically short and stout build
- webbed neck
- narrow hips
- irregular internal organs
- chronic skin lesions

Question 10

what does it mean if a fetus is insensitive to testosterone?

Answer 10

there will be no formation of male gentalia as the cells can produce it, they are often born and raised as girls