chromosomes

• how do chromosomes affect sex and gender


  determines your biological attributes and therefore your sense of maleness and femaleness (aka gender)
• what are the two types of chromosome pattern

  typical

  atypical
• what are typical chromosome patterns

  • 23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell
  • females have XX
  • males have XY
• what is the link between chromosomal sex and genetalia


  usually a direct link, XX = vagina/ovaries and XY = penis/testes
• how do males and females develop?

  during prenatal development, we all start the same

  • a few weeks after conception both male and females look feminine
  • when the foetus is 3 months old, testosterone is secreted which leads to the development of male genetalia
• what is genetic transmission?


  how genes are passed onto you and determine your sex and it may also explain some aspects of gender because of the link between genes and genetalia and hormones
• what are two examples of atypical sex chromosome patterns?

  klinefelters syndrome

  turners syndrome
• what is klinefelters syndrome?

  due to a chromasonal configuration of XXY, it affects 1 in 600 men
• characteristics of klinefelters syndrome 


  • less muscular coordination
  • taller than average
  • look less masculine eg: less facial hair and possible breast tissue
  • often infertile
  • poor verbal and reading skills
• what is turners syndrome?


  due to a chromosomal X0 configuration (second is missing), occurs in 1 in 2000 females
• characteristics of turners syndrome


  • born with vagina and womb
  • shorter than average
  • lack of periods (undeveloped ovaries)
  • 'webbed neck'
  • narrow hips
  • characteristics vary for each woman
• what do genes/chromosomes determine?


  a persons sex and therefore hormones
• what is turners syndrome?

  an a-typical chromosome configuration of XO (missing the second chromosome partly or entirely), it affects about 1 in 2000 females
• characteristics of turners syndrome


  • shorter than average
  • lack of mensuration (due to undeveloped ovaries)
  • can include webbed neck and narrow hips but no two females have the same characteristics