Role of chromosomes and hormones

Outline the role of chromones and hormones

1)Gender development is goverened by hormones that act upon brain development and cause the development of reproductive organs and trigger secondary sexual characteristics

2) Testosterons, the gene in the u chromone causes testes to from which produces testosteronse causing key changes such as development of male organs, masculinisation of the brain (males have greater spatial skills) and links to stereotypical male behaviourssuch as competitiveness and aggression

3) Oestrogen is the main hormone produced by females in the overies liked to female characteristics such as compassion and sensitiviety and used to regulate the menstrual cycle

4) Oxytocin (the love hormone) is associated with bonding, nurturing and trust, high levels are found in females and is often amplified by oestrogen, this is important in childbirth as it stimulate contraction, breastfeeding and helps the baby and mother form and emotional bond

5)Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes which determine gender (XX female or XY male) - male determines the gender of the baby - the y chromone carries a gene called SRY causing androgend to be produced in a male embryo.

Outline atypical chromosomes

6) Klinefelter’s syndome causesan extra x chromonome in males leading to effects such as being taller than average, weaker muscles and less body hair and often having poor language skills and is shy

Turner’s syndrome has a missing x chromone in females leading to effects usch as no mentrual cycle, being shorten than average and underdeveloped ovaries. often having high reading ability and social immaturity

Strengths

AO3 = Strengths

Real life applications - Research into the role hormones in sex and gender has led to significant beneficial practical applications. For example, administering oxytocin has proved beneficial during childbirth as it reduces haemorrhaging, decreasing mortality rates in mothers and infants. - High external validity

Real life applications - Research into patients affected with Klinefelter's syndrome and Turner's syndrome has seen the development of therapies that improve the quality and duration of their lives. For example, treating stunted physical growth often seen with Turner's syndrome with growth hormones and the treatment of Klinefelter's syndrome with testosterone.

Limitations

AO3- Weaknesses

X Biologically reductionist - It is too simplistic to perceive single hormones as having exclusive effects upon sex and gender. Hormones are often one part of a complex biological mechanism that exert multi-faceted and complex actions upon the human body and behaviour. An example of this is the interaction of sex chromosomes, the SRY gene, gonadal hormones.

XNegative implications - Klinefelter's syndrome and Turner's syndrome can actually be diagnosed prenatally based on cytogenetic analysis of the foetus. This is however a ethically and socially sensitive area as a diagnosis of such may incur a demand or bring about pressure upon prospective parents to ask for an abortion.