Atypical Sex Chromosomes

Atypical sex chromosome patterns

Chromosomes not following the typical male = XX female = XY pattern

klinefelter’s syndrome

Additional X chromosome in males (XXY)

1/600, only affects males, around 2/3 are not aware they have it

K Physical characteristics

Softer features, reduced body hair, co-ordination issues

K Psychological characteristics

Lower cognitive ability (poorly developed language and reading skills), difficulty coping with stress, passive and shy

Turner’s syndrome

Lacking an X chromosome (XO) in females

1/5000, have 45 chromosomes instead of 46

T Physical characteristics

Do not developt breasts, no menstrual cycle, webbed neck and low ears

T Psychological characteristics

Higher reading ability, social immaturity, lower maths and spatial skills

AO3

(+) Real world application

(-) Sampling issues

(+) Insight into nature/nurture debate

(+) Real world application

Herlihy et al.

Studied 87 individuals with KS → those identified and treated from a younger age had significant benefits compared to those diagnosed in adulthood

Benefits: mental health (aware of the reason behind being different), increased checkups to catch possible breast cancer earlier (have increased risk of development)

Real world value

(-) Sampling issues

Only people with severe symptoms identified

Small sample size → skewed data (only extremes considered)

Leads to development of distorted image not representative

Boada et al.

Prospective studies (following XXY ind. from brith) have produced more accurate picture of characteristics → many do not experience significant cognitive or psych problems and are academically successful

Suggests data is unreliable and severity of KS and TS may have been overestimated

(+) Insight into nature/nurture debate

Compare people with syndromes to those with typical sex chromosomes allows researchers to see psych and behavioural differences

Assumed these differences stem from bio level (chromosomes) contributing to nature side of debate

CP: Relationship between atypical chromosome patterns associated with KS and TS and difference in behaviour isn’t causal

→ e.g. alternate explanation for social immaturity (Turners) is that they don’t ever get treated like adults due to looking younger

Innacurate to assume differences are due to only nature or only nurture influences → interactionist approach best