Week 5 - Sex and Gender Flashcards by Luc King

Children characterized by “low
resilience,” who appear to wilt when
faced with environmental challenges

Orchid Children

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Sex

-Humans, nonhuman animals, and cells
-Typically binary
-Male, female
-Intersex
-Biology
-Anatomy
-Physiology
-Chromosomes
-Hormones
-Gene expression
-Behaviour

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Gender

-Unique to humans
-Multifaceted and complex
-Exists on a continuum
-Can change over time
-Can differ from sex
-Feminine, masculine
-Her, him, they
-Social
-Cultural
-Psychological
-Political
-Behavior and roles

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Genes that make an
individual more appealing
to the opposite sex will
increase the probability of
reproduction

Sexual Selection

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competition between members of the same sex (usually males) for access to mates

Intrasexual selection

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a phenomenon where members of one sex (usually females) choose members of the opposite sex

Intersexual selection

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4 Step Sequence development of Sex Organs

Genetic Sex (XX, XY)
Gonads (Testis/Ovaries)
Sex Organs (Organizing Effects)
Maturation (Organizing and
Activating Effects)

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Determination of Genetic Sex

miosis of gametes (x and y)

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0-6 weeks
à sex organs are undifferentiated
*Undifferentiated gonads
*Undifferentiated precursor tissue:
*Mullerian ducts (female)
*Wolffian ducts (male)
*Gonads (testes/ovaries) are the first to be determined
*Important for determining production of sperm/ova and
sex hormones
*SRY gene on the Y chromosome causes gonads to become
testes

Development: Gonads

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The embryonic precursors of the female
internal sex organs (fimbriae, fallopian tubes, uterus, inner 2/3
of vagina)

Müllerian system (Becoming Female)
-Determined by Sex Hormones

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The embryonic precursors of the male internal
sex organs (seminal vesicles, epididymis, vas deferens)

Wolffian system (Becoming Male)
-Determined by Sex Hormones

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Androgens and Estrogens are _______ _______ (also known as sex
hormones)

steroid hormones

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Androgens

§ Testosterone (most common)
§ Dihydrotestosterone

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Estrogens

Estradiol (most common)
.Progesterone

-Prepares uterus for implantation of fertilized ovum
- .Promotes maintenance of pregnancy

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How do steroid hormones work?

Bind to membrane receptors to
exert quick effects
Activate proteins in the cell
Alter expression of chromosomes
to turn genes off/on.

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Sexual Development Hormones: Organizing Effects

■ Sex hormones during prenatal
development determines structure of
sex organs and brain
■ Postnatal development at puberty
determines other sexually dimorphic
features (e.g., breast development,
dropping of testes
■ Long-term effects

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Sexual Development Hormones: Activating Effects

Sex hormones activated
during postnatal stage
– E.g., Sperm production,
Erection, Ejaculation,
Ovulation, Sex drive
■ Short-term effects
– Cyclical (especially for
females)

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Sexual Development Organizing Effects (NOT HORMONE)

Determination of internal and external sex organs
- 7-8 weeks = precursor tissue differentiates
- 2 precursor tissue systems = penis , vagina

Hormones secreted by
the testes determine
differentiation of sex
organs
* Anti-mullerian
hormone (AMH)
* Androgens
(testosterone,
dihydrotestosterone)

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Development: Organizing and Activating

TESTOSTERONE
Androgen
* Organizing: facial and body hair, lowers voice, muscular
development, genital growth,
* Activating: sex drive, reproduction

ESTRADIOL
Estrogen
* Organizing: breast development, lining of uterus, body fat
deposition, maturation of female genitalia,
* Activating: sex drive, reproduction

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the condition of having an abnormal number of
chromosomes in a haploid set

Aneuploidy

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-1/500 newborn males
-Additional X from mother’s egg or father’s sperm
-Diagnosis in adulthood
-75% never diagnosed

-Taller than average, greater abdominal fat, low muscle tone, less
facial/body hair, smaller sex organs, hypogonadal, infertile.

XXY, Klinefelter
Syndrome

-XX sex-reversal
-1/25,000 newborn males
-Genetic sex is “female” (XX)
-SRY is translocated to X chromosome
-Male gonads (i.e., testes) are formed
-Identify with and physically look male
-Shorter than average, less hair, gynecomastia,
hypogonadal, smaller sex organs, infertile

XX Male Syndrome

-Genetic sex is male (XY)
-Receptors do not respond to androgens
-Range from:
-Complete AIS (external genitalia feminized)
-Partial AIS (partial genitalia masculinized)
-Mild (masculinized) AIS
-Present with internal testes, not ovaries or uterus
-Presentation from hypogonadal = Shallow vagina
- Infertile
-

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

-Genetic sex is male (XY)
-Extremely rare (prevalence unknown; 250 reported cases in
medical literature)
-Failure to produce AMH or no receptors for the hormone
-Genetic variation in AMH gene
- inherited autosomal recessive gene
-Present with female and male internal sex organs
- Undescended testes + Underdeveloped uterus
- Hermaphroditism
-Infertile

Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome

- Genetic sex X (aka X0) –1/2500 newborn females -Either entire X, or partial X chromosome is missing -Result of defective sperm -Gonads do not develop (non-working ovaries) -Internal and external organs are female -No estrogen, puberty must be induced -Under-developed breasts, short stature, broad chested, webbed neck - Other: learning disability, increased risk for CVD, immune disorders

Turner’s Syndrome

- Genetic sex is “female” (XX) –1/15,000 newborn females –Autosomal recessive disorders – dysregulation of the adrenal glands (CYP21 gene) -Exposure to high androgen levels during development -Mullerian system activated, but external organs are “intersex” or “ambiguous

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

True / False: Estradiol and other estrogens do not modify male anatomy

True

Female rats exposed to testosterone during sensitive periods dont become partly masculinized in anatomy and behavior.

False (THEY DO)

Extra stuff ■ The absence of sex hormones generally leads to female-looking external genitalia. ■ Females lacking estradiol during early life do not develop normal sexual behavior.

Sexual dimorphism of hypothalamus largely a result of _______ exposure

hormone (Organizing Effects of Hormones on the Brain)

total score derived from a set of standardized tests or subtests designed to assess human intelligence

An intelligence quotient (IQ)

T/F : No significant sex differences in general intelligence

True

Men advantaged over women in _______ intelligence

Spatial - Infancy: Boys more likely to recognize a stimulus that is rotated in space – Persists across lifespan

The capacity to understand, reason and remember the spatial relations among objects or space

Spatial Intelligence

2nd largest sex difference in psychology ▻ 1 st - ____________________________________________________

males rate themselves as more masculine than females

Women advantaged over men in ________ intelligence

Verbal - Infancy: Girls talk earlier – Elementary and High School: Girls score higher on measures of reading comprehension and verbal fluency – Adults: No difference

The capability of a person to express ideas using words in a clearly understandable manner

Verbal Intelligence

■ Males have a more symmetric brain organization ■ Empirical evidence is lacking. – 2 studies support – 8 studies partial support – 13 studies conflict ■ Alternative explanations – Evolutionary 49

Levy’s Hypothesis

Hormones and the Mesolimbic Dopaminergic (DA) Pathway are part of _____ _________

Sexual Reproduction

CNS circuit - dopaminergic inputs from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) innervate brain regions in the limbic system (amygdala etc.) involved in executive, affective, and motivational functions

Mesolimbic system

How hormones and DA activate pathway for Sexual Reproduction

Testosterone and estradiol leads to activation of DA in the hypothalamus and other brain regions mesolimbic pathway * DA circuitry is associated with reinforcement of sexual behavior and anticipation of reward– same in males and females * D1 receptors: erection, receptive behaviour, commitment/fidelity * D2 receptor: orgasm, attachment, mating bond

Menstrual cycle

*Reproductive cycle in humans (vs estrous in rodents) *In animals – sexual behavior is linked to ovulation * The reproductive cycle....

Entire Menstrual Cycle Process (REVIEW)

GnRH FSH Growth of ovarian follicles Follicle nurtures the ovum Increased estradiol Increased estradiol, increased FSH, Follicle matures Ovulation = rupture of follicle & development of corpus luteum Progesterone rises GnRH released and surge in LH Pregnancy or Menstruation

*Middle of menstrual cycle *Maximum fertility *High estrogen level

Periovulatory period - Higher rating of pleasure following viewing of erotic film *Preference for “manly” males *More initiation of sex

– Increases touch sensitivity in the penis and sexual arousal. – Triggers the release of dopamine by the medial preoptic area (MPOA), and anterior hypothalamus – Correlates with sexual interest – Studies that inhibit GnRH – decrease sexual desire, fantasy and initiation of intercourse

Testosterone

release of oxytocin *From posterior pituitary *Reproductive behavior: contraction of uterus; stimulates mammary gland *Important for pair bonding/ attachment *Decreases stress response and anxiety/fear *Facilitates trust and other social behaviors

The orgasm

T / F: Most men discover sexual orientation early, Process is slower for women.

True

Sexual Orientation Concordance rate in _______ twins is higher than ________ twins

Monozygotic, Dizygotic

EXTRA STUFF Sexual Orientation - Prenatal Influence *Maternal immune system reacts against a protein in a newborn son and then their immune system attacks the protein needed for “male brain development” in subsequent births *Increased probability of gay male with older brothers

True / False: Research on asexuality is far lacking

True

Hormone therapy

– 6 longitudinal studies measuring effect of gender affirming hormone therapy on brain structure of transgender individuals ■ GAHT either feminizes brain structures in MTFs or defeminizes brain structures in FTMs