Role of Chromosomes and Hormones

Question 1

what are the role of chromosomes?

Answer 1

• 23 pairs, last pair determine biological sex

- all start with XX, but determining Y gene may be present

Question 2

What are the role of hormones?

Answer 2

• in womb, hormones cause development of brain and reproductive organs
• hormones at puberty cause development of secondary sexual characteristics

Question 3

what is the role of testosterone?

Answer 3

• controls development of male sex organs
• produced from 8 week foetus
• Nanne van de pole (88) proved female rats injected with testosterone were physically and sexually aggressive

Question 4

what is the role of oestrogen?

Answer 4

• determines female sexual characteristics

- more emotion during enstrual cycle

Question 5

what is the role of oxytocin?

Answer 5

• women produce more than men especially after birth
• reduce stress hormone (love hormone) and allows bonding
• both sexes produce it during sexual encounters

Question 6

+ evidence for role of hormones and chromosomes

Answer 6

• david reimer (95) where he lost penis so become a girl but always knew he was a boy
• Goozen (95) watched transgenders injected with hormones and found males were less aggressive and women more aggressive

Question 7

• contradictory evidence

Answer 7

-Tricker (96) did double blind study where 43 males given testosterone or placebo and found little difference in aggression

Question 8

• objections to pre-menstrual syndrome

Answer 8

• questioned effect of oestrogen on woman mood
• rodin (92) said its a social contrast not biological fact
• dismissal of emotions by blaming biology