Chapter 3. Puberty

3.1 Synopsis

Human Development Video Activity
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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.
estrogen
Hormone produced primarily by the ovaries that is important for female development, reproduction, and sexual behavior.
gonads
Reproductive organs that produce gametes and sex hormones. The female gonads are the ovaries, and the male gonads are the testes.
growth hormones
Produced in pituitary gland to stimulate growth in the body during childhood and adolescence and to help regenerate and maintain organs and tissues throughout life.
menarche
The first menstruation in girls.
ovaries
A pair of reproductive organs in women located in the pelvis. Ovaries are responsible for producing hormones and eggs, the female gamete.
primary sex characteristics
Bodily organs that are directly involved in fertility and conception, including the vagina, uterus, ovaries, testicles and penis. While these organs are present at birth, they do not reach maturity until puberty.
puberty
The period of human development when the body grows and matures into adulthood. The sexual organs mature as the body readies for the possibility of reproduction.
secondary sex characteristics
Traits that are not directly related to fertility and conception that develop during puberty, such as breasts in girls, facial hair and a deepened voice in boys, and pubic and underarm hair in both sexes.
testes
Also known as testicles. A pair of reproductive organs in men located in the scrotum. Testes are responsible for producing hormones and sperm, the male gamete.
testosterone
Hormone produced primarily by the testes that is important for male development, reproduction, and sexual behavior.

Welcome

Puberty

In this activity, you will explore the physical developments that take place leading up to and during puberty as girls and boys become women and men. You will learn what factors affect the timing of puberty and furthermore, any effects that experiencing puberty earlier or later than their peers may have on adolescents.

Click the 'Get Started' button below to start this activity

A young pregnant couple listen carefully to a lady doctor.
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3.2 Common Genetic Diseases and Conditions

Common Genetic Diseases and Conditions

Everyone carries alleles that could produce serious diseases or conditions in their offspring. Most such genes have no serious consequences because they are recessive. The phenotype is affected only when the inherited condition is dominant or when a zygote is homozygous for a particular recessive condition, that is, when the zygote has received the recessive gene from both parents.

Click on each condition to view its characteristics.

Go to list of Diseases

3.3 Common Genetic Diseases and Conditions

Common Genetic Diseases and Conditions

A small girl with down's syndrome laughs.
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Question 3.1 Testing for genetic disorders during a pregnancy

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Your answer should address the incidence of the disease(s) you selected, the family history, ethnic background, and carrier status (if applicable) of the both of you, as well as whether the disorder can be detected prenatally.

3.4 Activity Completed!

Congratulations! You have completed this activity.

REFERENCES

Benacerraf, Beryl R. (2007).Ultrasound of fetal syndromes (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingtone/Elsevier.

Butler, Merlin Gene, & Meaney, F. John. (2005). Genetics of developmental disabilities. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis.

Cruz-Inigo, Andres E., Ladizinski, Barry, & Sethi, Aisha. (2011). Albinism in Africa: Stigma, slaughter, and awareness campaigns. Dermatologic Clinics, 29, 79–87.

Haydon, Jo. (2007). Genetics in practice: A clinical approach for healthcare practitioners.Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Hemminki, Kari, Sundquist, Jan, & Lorenzo Bermejo, Justo. (2008). Familial risks for cancer as the basis for evidence-based clinical referral and counseling. The Oncologist,13, 239–247.

Klug, William, Cummings, Michael, Spencer, Charlotte, & Palladino, Michael. (2008). Concepts of genetics (9th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings.

McKusick, Victor A. (2007). Mendelian Inheritance in Man and its online version, OMIM.American Journal of Human Genetics, 80, 588–604.

Moore, Keith L., & Persaud, Trivedi V. N. (2007). The developing human: Clinically oriented embryology (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier.

Shahin, Hashem, Walsh, Tom, Sobe, Tama, Lynch, Eric, King, Mary-Claire, Avraham, Karen, et al. (2002). Genetics of congenital deafness in the Palestinian population: Multiple conexin 26 alleles with shared origins in the Middle East. Human Genetics, 110, 284–289.