The role of chromosomes and hormones

Question 1

What are chromosomes made from?

Answer 1

DNA

Question 2

What are genes?

Answer 2

short sections of DNA that determine the characteristics of a living thing.

Question 3

How many chromosomes are in the human body?

Answer 3

46 - 23 pairs - 23rd pair determining biological sex.

Question 4

What is the chromosomal structure for females and males?

Answer 4

Females = XX
Males = XY

Question 5

What gene causes testes to develop in an XY embryo?

Answer 5

SRY

Question 6

What do chromosomes initially dtermine?

Answer 6

a persons sex

Question 7

What do hormones cause?

Answer 7

the development of reproductive organs

Question 8

What happens to hormones during puberty?

Answer 8

A burst of hormnal activity which causes the development of secondary sexual characteristics

Question 9

What is the most widely known androgen in males?

Answer 9

testosterone

Question 10

What is testosterone?

Answer 10

a male hormone which controls the development of male sex organs during foetal development

Question 11

What happens if a genetic male produces no testosterone during foetal development?

Answer 11

no male sex organs appear

Question 12

What happens if a genetic female produces high levels of testosterone?

Answer 12

male sex organs may appear

Question 13

What are high levels of testosterone linked to?

Answer 13

aggression

Question 14

What is oestrogen?

Answer 14

a female hormone which determines female sexual characteristics and menstruation

Question 15

Which sex typically produces more oxytocin?

Answer 15

Females especially when giving birth

Question 16

What does oxytocin stimulate?

Answer 16

Lactation making it possible for mothers to breastfeed

Question 17

What does oxytocin reduce?

Answer 17

The stress hormone cortisol and facilitates bonding

Question 18

What has evidence shown about oxytocin?

Answer 18

That both sexes produce it in roughly equal amounts when kissing and having intercourse.

Question 19

Evaluation: Evidence supports the role of sex hormones in gender development

Answer 19

• Wang et al gave 227 hypogonadal men testosterone therapy for 180 days and changes where monitored. It was shown to improve sexual function as well as muscle strength.
  However other evidence is less convincing. Daryl O connor et al increased testosterone in healthy young men showed that there was no significant increases in any behaviour. This suggests additional testosterone to normal adults has no effects on their sexual or aggressive behaviour.

Question 20

Evaluation: Ignore the role of social factors in gender-related behaviour

Answer 20

This challenges biological explanations and suggests social factors may have greater influence in shaping behaviour.

Question 21

Evaluation: Reductionist

Answer 21

cognitive approach would argue schemas influence our though process suggesting gender is more complex than its biological influences alone.