role of chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender

Question 1

role of chromosomes

Answer 1

to carry genes (hold instructions for physical and behavioural characteristics)

Question 2

how many chromosomes are humans born with

Answer 2

46 chromosomes (23 pairs)

Question 3

what pair of chromosomes is the sex chromosome

Answer 3

23rd pair

Question 4

what does the 23rd pair of chromosomes determine

Answer 4

determines the sex of the individual

Question 5

XX chromosomes

Answer 5

• females

Question 6

XY chromosomes

Answer 6

• males (y chromosome carries little genetic material)

Question 7

how is the sex determined within womb

Answer 7

• during prenatal development all individuals start off with same internal and external genitalia - few weeks after conception male and female embryos have external genitalia of female
• when foetus is 3 months it developed to male if Y chromosome is added

Question 8

what are the two typical chromosomes for sex and gender

Answer 8

XX
XY

Question 9

what are the 2 main atypical chromosomes

Answer 9

• Klinefelter syndrome
• turners syndrome

Question 10

what chromosome configuration would individuals with Klinefelter syndrome have

Answer 10

XXY (extra X chromosome)

Question 11

characteristics and features of individuals with klinefelter syndrome

Answer 11

• born with penis
• tend to be taller
• look less muscular due to reduced testosterone levels
• often infertile

Question 12

how many out of 1000 males will have klinefelters syndrome

Answer 12

1 in 1000 males

Question 13

what chromosome configuration would individuals with turners syndrome have

Answer 13

XO chromosomes (second chromosome partly/ completely missing)

Question 14

characteristics of individuals with turner syndrome

Answer 14

• born with vagina and womb - may lack periods due to undeveloped ovaries
• shorter than average
• webbed neck
• narrow hips

Question 15

how many out of 2000 females will have turners syndrome

Answer 15

1 out of 2000

Question 16

what are the 3 hormones related to sex and gender

Answer 16

• testosterone
• oestrogen
• oxytocin

Question 17

define hormones

Answer 17

genes/chromosomes that determine persons sex which then leads to production of hormones

Question 18

what is testosterone responsible for

Answer 18

responsible for development of secondary sexual characteristics during puberty

Question 19

how does testosterone link to aggression (case study)

Answer 19

• hormone links to testosterone as shown by Nanne van de poll who injected female rats with testosterone and found they become more physically and sexually aggressive)

Question 20

how does testosterone affect brain development
(case study)

Answer 20

XX females were exposed prenatally to large doses of testosterone where they later showed more tomboyish behaviour (Berenbaum + Bailey)

Question 21

oestrogens default gender

Answer 21

female

Question 22

oestrogens role in females

Answer 22

plays role in puberty by promoting secondary sexual characteristics and during menstrual cycle - heightens the irritability

Question 23

what is oxytocin also know as

Answer 23

‘love hormone’

Question 24

why is oxytocin known as the love hormone

Answer 24

• promotes feeling of bonding in men and women whilst evoking the feelings of contentment and calmness

Question 25

what hormone does oxytocin reduce

Answer 25

reduces cortisol levels (stress hormone)

Question 26

why do females tend to produce larger amounts of oxytocin than men

Answer 26

- women especially during giving birth produce more whilst men produce less of the hormone because testosterone dampens oxytocin

Question 27

eval points for role of chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender

Answer 27

(+) challenging biological determinism (-) importance of other factors (+) real world application (+) evidence for testosterone

Question 28

expand on (+) challenging biological determinism as eval point for chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender

Answer 28

- supporting evidence for importance of genes and hormones upon determination of individuals gender - Money claimed bio sex wasnt main factor of gender development and argued sex of rearing was more important - case study - David Reimer an intersex individual can support Money's claims that intersex people can be raised being either a girl or boy - Reimers case initially supported Money's claims until David showed strong male identity despite being brought up as girl -Reimers outcome further support other research - Reiner and Gearhart studied 16 genetic males born with almost no penis - 2 were raised as males and 14 were raised as girls (8 reassigned to males by age 16) - research supports biological factors having key role in gender development

Question 29

expand on eval point (-) importance of other factors for role of chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender

Answer 29

- alternative viewpoints suggest gender is made up of multiple factors and not just biology - example: some cases of abnormal exposure, genetic sex doesnt match external genitalia + hormones dont produce simple formula for establishing gender - gender appears to be complex and unpredictable combination of genes, hormones, sex or rearing and socialisation - impossible to predict what individuals gender identity will be - can argued holistic view of gender may be more appropriate when trying to understand how individuals identity is formed

Question 30

expand on eval point (+) real world application for chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender

Answer 30

- greater understanding of intersex conditions down to real world application -- in past intersex conditions were normally treated with using surgery - now its recommended babies with condition dont have surgery to allow individual to make own decisions for themselves - genetic screening has allowed conditions such as turners syndrome to be identified early on - greater understanding has allowed individuals with gender related conditions to access wide range of support to help them improve their life

Question 31

expand on eval point (+) evidence for testosterone for hormones in sex and gender

Answer 31

- strength of explanation is there being research to support role of testosterone - research found female monkeys who were deliberately exposed to testosterone during prenatal development later engaged in more rough and tumble and were more aggressive - reveals how important testosterone is in development of gender and behaviours - potential ethical issues due to animal studies which can limit the explanation