lesson 5-syndromes Flashcards
What is Klinefelters syndrome?
Where boys and men are born with an extra chromosome so a boy is born with an extra copy of the x chromosome
What is turners syndrome?
Female only genetic disorder where a female only has 1 X chromosome rather than the usual 2
What are physical characteristics of Klinefelters syndrome?
- Reduced facial and body hair
- enlarged breast tissue
- infertility and undeveloped testes
- More likely to develop auto immune disease and breast cancer
- Inability to maintain a healthy weight
- Usually grow taller than expected and have broader hips
- more likely to develop type two diabetes
- have lower energy levels during childhood
- weaker muscles and hypermoble joints
What are psycholgical characterstics of Klinefelters syndrome?
- Poor developed language skills
- passive and shy temperant
- lower self esteem leading to depression
- poor responses to stress
- exhibit issues with problem solving
- lower sexual interest
- immaturity
What are the physical characteristics of Turners syndrome?
- low set ears
- low hairline
- widely spaced nipples
- small finger nails
- short statuer
- feet and hands swollen at birth
- underdeveloped ovaries meaning no menstruation
- arms that fall slightly at the elbows
- broad
- webbed neck
- hips are not bigger than waist
What are psychological characteristics of Turners syndrome?
- Difficulty learning
- decreased spatial awareness of skills
- decreased numeracy skills
- short attention spam
- good language and reading skills
- physical overactivity
- problems understanding social relationships
- may act impulsively
- Good language and reading skills
Strength of atypical chromosome patterns(nature-nurture)
P-contributes to nature-nurture debate in gender
E- it is possible to compare people with ts and ks to individuals with typical sex chromosome patterns to assess gender related psychological and behavioural differences
E-e.g females with ts are seen to have higher verbal ability
L-therefore, can be concluded that ‘verbal ability’ is more influenced by the X chomosome, and thus inferred that verbal activity has a more biological (genetic nature) basis
Strength of atypical chromosome patterns(better accuracy)
P-greater understanding of the conditions has led to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of ks and ts which has led to better outcomes for individuals living with these conditions
E-e.g early diagnosis and therpeutic interventions in children with TS has shown to have positive impacts on physical development.Quigley (2014) showed females given oestrogen supplements between the age of 5-12 years old, had earlier increased breast development at the ages of 8.5-12 years old compared to a control group recieving placebo
L-Therefore, showing the physical benefits of early intervention
Limitations of atypical chromosome patterns(correlational)
P-findings are correlational rather than casual
E-means that the observed behaviours may not be directly caused by genetic factors but could result from how individuals with these conditions are treated differently by their environment
E-e.g girls with ts, who are often physically smaller, might be treated more immaturely by parents and teachers.This could lead to social immaturity being attributed to their physical characteristics rather than their atypical XO chromosome pattern
L-questions usefulness of this research in helping to gain an understanding of the relative contributions of nature andnurture in gender related traits and behaviours.
Limitation of atypical chromosome pattern(socially sensitive)
P-Socially sensitive
E/E-often links these conditions with negative traits such as poor social skills in ks, which can impact ‘individuals’well-being.This is an issue because the samples used in research into ks and ts often include individuals who are more significantly affected by negative aspects of the condition
L-Conclusions should be used cautiously to prevent stigma and misinformation
Main points of Klinefelters syndrome…
- effects one in 600 males
- due to error in egg cell when it develops or if fathers sperm carries an extra x chromosome
- chromosome pattern of XXY and excess of oestrogen in the body
- incurable but treatment with additional testosterone can increase muscle and bone development, though it cannot reverse infertility
Main points about turners syndrome
- 1 in every 2000 female births
- involves having all or part of an x chromsome missing, denoted by the atypical sex chromosome pattern XO
- Most affected females will require hormone replacement therapy to develop breasts and normal female body contours, undergo proper bone growth and begin menstruation.
