Gender: atypical sex chromosome patterns

Question 1

define atypical sex chromosome patterns

Answer 1

Any sex chromosome pattern that deviate from the usual XX/XY formation and which tends to be associated with a distinct pattern of physical and psychological
symptoms

Question 2

what are two examples of disorders caused by atypical sex chromosome patterns

Answer 2

> klinefelter’s syndrome
turner’s syndrome

Question 3

how many people does klinefelter’s syndrome affect

Answer 3

1 in 500-1000 men

Question 4

how many people does turner’s syndrome affect

Answer 4

1-5000 females
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Question 5

chromosomal structure for klinefelter’s syndrome

Answer 5

XXY
have 47 chromosomes

Question 6

chromosomal structure for turner’s syndrome

Answer 6

XO
have 45 chromosomes

Question 7

who is affected by klinefelter’s syndrome

Answer 7

biological males

Question 8

who is affected by turner’s syndrome

Answer 8

biological females

Question 9

physical characteristics of klinefelter’s syndrome

Answer 9

> Reduced body hair
Some breast development
Softening or rounding of the body, long gangly
limbs
Underdeveloped genitals
problems with coordination and general clumsiness
Suffer health issues associated with females such as breast cancer

Question 10

physical characteristics of turner’s syndrome

Answer 10

> no menstrual cycle, there ovaries fail to develop so
they are therefore sterile.
They do not develop breasts and have a broad shield chest
Low set ears
webbed neck
the hips are not much
bigger than the waist
look physically immature tend to retain the appearance of pre-pubescent girls

Question 11

psychological characteristics of klinefelter’s syndrome

Answer 11

> Poorly developed language skills and reading ability
Sufferers tend to be quite passive, shy and lack
interest in sexual activity.
Many tend not to respond well to stressful
situations
have problems with memory and
problem solving

Question 12

psychological characteristics of turner’s syndrome

Answer 12

> Higher than average reading ability
Poor spatial,
visual memory and mathematical skills
Socially immature, have trouble relating to their
peers and ‘fitting in’

Question 13

AO3: nature vs nurture

Answer 13

contributes to the debate
Without looking at people with chromosomal disorders it would be hard to compare behaviours that may be specific to females or males. Those behaviours that are different would
therefore have a “nature” or “biological” basis
eg: psych characteristics like being socially immature
may be assumed that these psychological characteristics have a chromosomal basis

Question 14

AO3: environmental explanations

Answer 14

may be issues with assuming there’s a causal relationship between chromosomal abnormalities and behavioural differences
the behaviour could be due to social and environmental factors
eg: social immaturity with turner’s syndrome might be due to society treating people with the disorder as children > this could be causing some learning problems

Question 15

AO3 practical application

Answer 15

research into atypical chromosome patterns is likely to lead to earlier more accurate diagnosis
eg: recent study of 87 people with klinefelter’s syndrome those who were diagnosed earlier on had significant benefits compared to those diagnosed in adulthood
suggests increased aware can improve their quality of life

Question 16

AO3: sample size

Answer 16

hard to draw conclusions from an unusual sample
eg: klinefelter’s syndrome affects 1 in 500-1000
and turner’s syndrome affects 1 in 5000
increasingly hard to study and make meaningful generalisations
these people are treated differently to those with typical sex chromosomes so hard to know if behaviour is due to nature or nurture