The Nature and Nurture of Sex and Gender Flashcards

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1
Q

Heritability estimate

A

A statistic that specifies the proportion of total population variance in a given trait that is due to genetic differences among the general population. Heritability estimates (signified by h2) can range from 0% to 100%.

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2
Q

Intersex

A

Individuals for whom the biological components of sex (chromosomes, hormones, and internal and external genitalia) do not fit either the typical male pattern or the typical female pattern.

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3
Q

Genes

A

Basic units of heredity passed down from parents to offspring, consisting of specific sequences of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that carry instructions for the offspring’s characteristics.

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4
Q

Gene-by-environment interaction

A

When a genetic effect on a trait or bx emerges only under certain environmental circumstances or when the environmental effect on a trait or bx depends on a person’s genetic makeup.

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5
Q

Genetics

A

The study of genes (the basic units of heredity) and how physical traits are inherited.

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6
Q

Epigenetics

A

The study of the biological mechanisms that guide whether or not certain genes get expressed.

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7
Q

Microbiome

A

The complex system of microbial microorganisms that lives inside the human body.

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8
Q

Gut-brain axis

A

Bidirectional communications that take place between the brain and the GI tract.

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9
Q

Sex differentiation

A

The complex processes that unfold as sex-undifferentiated embryos transition into individuals with male, female, or intersex internal and external genitalia.

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10
Q

Chromosomes

A

Organized units of genes inside the cells of all living organisms. Somatic cells in the human body have 23 pairs of chromosomes, and reproductive cells have 23 unpaired chromosomes.

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11
Q

Gonads

A

The sex organs (ovaries and testes) that produce sex cells (egg and sperm) and sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone).

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12
Q

Genital ridge

A

The precursor of female or male gonads (ovaries or testes). It appears identical in genetic female and male embryos.

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13
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical substances in the body that regulate bodily fx such as digestion, growth, & reproduction.

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14
Q

Mini-puberty

A

A period from birth to about 6 mos. in which boys experience surges in testosterone & girls experience surges in testosterone & estrogen

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15
Q

XO* (Turner’s syndrome)

A

*The “O” indicates that the second sex chromosome is missing, partially missing, or structurally altered.

  • chromosomal condition @ 23 chromosome pair
  • fertilization of ovum by sperm w/ no sex chromosome
  • typical gender identity is female but does not develop female sex characteristics due to lack of estrogen
  • no functional ovaries
  • receives estrogen treatments
  • acts more girly than XX females
  • less athletic, more interested in girly things; wants marriage & children more than XX girls
  • normal to higher than average IQ
  • visual, spatial, math deficits
  • infertile
  • shorter than average
  • female-typical external genitalia
  • undeveloped sex organs @ puberty
  • increased risk for heart defects, diabetes, & hearing problems
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16
Q

XXX (triple X syndrome)

A
  • typical gender id is female
  • fertile
  • taller than average
  • female-typical internal & external anatomy
  • increased risk for language delays & learning disabilities
  • chromosomal condition @ pair 23 chromosome pair
17
Q

XXX (triple X syndrome)

A
  • typical gender id is female
  • fertile
  • taller than average
  • female-typical internal & external anatomy
  • increased risk for language delays & learning disabilities
  • chromosomal condition @ pair 23 chromosome
18
Q

XXY (Klinefelter syndrome)

A
  • extra chromosome
  • look externally male
  • 1 out of 800 births
  • abnormal ovum or sperm
  • taller, disproportionately long arms & legs
  • enlarged breasts & smaller penis & testes than XY males
  • infertile
  • social & gender id problems
  • overrepresented in prison populations
  • have more cognitive deficits than general population
  • chromosomal condition @ pair 23 chromosome
19
Q

XYY (Jacob’s syndrome)

A
  • chromosomal condition @ pair 23 chromosome
  • fertile
  • tall & thin
  • tend to have severe acne in adolescence & high testosterone levels
  • increased risk for speech & reading delays
20
Q

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

A
  • hormonal condition
  • fetus’ adrenal glands overproduce androgens
  • masculinization of XX fetuses’ external genitalia
  • bx different in females
  • when in females, level of androgens is abnormal
  • -better spatial skills
  • -prefer active & rough play
    1. born w/ masculine appearing genitals, undergo surgery to correct this
    2. parents know about masculine appearing genitals, so might treat these girls differently than girls without masculine genitals
21
Q

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS)

A

-hormonal condition
-XY, but cannot process androgens
-1 out of every 20,000 births
-external genitalia appear female
-internal male gonads (testes)
-shortened vaginas… surgically lengthened in life
-don’t differ from XX females
-need hormone therapy (have no ovaries; don’t produce estrogen; cannot menstruate)
-infertile due to lack of ovaries & uterus
pain w/ sexual penetration due to shortened vagina
-psychological problems… depression, treated as a specimen by medical profession, feeling alone/ unique, sadness from infertility, not being told about their condition until later in life & feeling betrayed by this
-genetic males typically id as female

22
Q

Genitalia

A

Internal & external reproductive organs. For females, these include the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, & ovaries (internal) & the labia & the clitoris (external). For males, these include the seminal vesicles, vas deferens, and the testes (internal) & the penis & scrotum (external).

23
Q

Genital tubercle

A

The undifferentiated embryonic structure that becomes the clitoris or the penis.

24
Q

Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS)

A
  • hormonal condition
  • clinically relevant in genetic males
  • gender id may either be male or female
  • variations in fertility
  • minimal body hair
  • enlarged breasts
  • atypical external genitalia (enlarged clitoris or small penis)
25
Q

Optimal sex

A

The binary (male or female) sex perceived to be most advantageous to assign to a newborn whose genitalia appear atypical at birth

26
Q

Gender confirmation procedures

A

Procedures (including hormone treatments, surgeries, speech therapies, & psychotherapies) that transgender individuals sometimes seek to bring their physical bodies into greater alignment w/ their psychological identities

27
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

An imaging procedure that uses magnetic fields & radio waves to create high-resolution images of brain structures

28
Q

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

A brain imaging technique that uses magnetic fields & radio waves to map brain activity

29
Q

Machine learning

A

A method of data analysis that trains computers how to detect patterns, & learn from data, w/ minimal human intervention

30
Q

Plasticity (or neuroplasticity)

A

The ability of the brain to reorganize & adapt physically throughout life in response to life experiences & environmental factors

31
Q

Neurosexism

A

Interpreting the findings from neuroscience research in ways that reinforce gender stereotypes w/o valid supporting evidence

32
Q

Evolutionary psychology

A

A theoretical approach that explains much of human thought & bx in terms of genetically heritable adaptations that evolved bc they helped ancestral humans survive & reproduce

33
Q

Biosocial constructionist theory

A

A theory that explains how biological differences btw women & men lead to sex-based labor divisions in society, which then shape the development of role-relevant skills & gender stereotypes

34
Q

Natural selection

A

The evolutionary process by which heritable features that increase the likelihood of an organism’s survival get passed down through genes

35
Q

Sexual selection

A

The evolutionary process by which heritable features that increase the likelihood of successful mating get passed down through genes

36
Q

Intrasexual selection

A

The process by which heritable features get passed down bc they give an animal a competitive edge in contests against same-sex animals for access to mates

37
Q

Intersexual selection

A

The process by which heritable features get passed down bc they give an animal an advantage by increasing its attractiveness to other-sex mates

38
Q

Parental investment theory

A

Theory proposing that the sex that invests more in parenting (usually female) will be more selective in its choice of mates & will prefer mates w/ social status & resources

39
Q

Biosocial constructionist theory

A

Integrates the roles of distal (distant) biological factors & proximal (close) social & cultural influences in explaining sex differences & similarities in bx & traits.
-Women’s reproductive activities (pregnancy & nursing) make it less efficient for them to do jobs that require them to be away from home for long periods of time & more efficient for them to perform domestic activities that keep them close to nursing infants & young children.