Chapter 1. Different Layers of Sexual Determination

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Scientific American: Psychology
Infographic Activity 10.1: Different Layers of Sexual Determination

Different Layers of Sexual Determination

When thinking about the biological factors that determine sex, most people envision the primary sex characteristics that indicate our assignment at birth. But one's sex is made up of many layers with different influences. Though they often all combine in a predictable way, there can be exceptions at any point. Looking at variations at each layer demonstrates the complex reality of sex that goes far beyond what is declared on our birth certificates.

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1.1 Quiz

1. Lately Marci has been reading about part of pubertal development that involves body parts directly involved in reproduction. Which of the following might be the title of the chapter she has been reading?

“Primary Sex Characteristics: Important for Having Babies!”

“Secondary Sex Characteristics: Can’t Get Pregnant Without Them.”

“Your Hormones and You: The Chemicals of Life”

“Chromosomes: How Many Do We Really Need Anyway?”

Correct.

Incorrect.

2. Young Matthew has been diagnosed with a chromosomal condition that causes him to have an extra X chromosome, leaving him with an XXY pattern on the 23^rd pair of chromosomes. He will probably deal with symptoms such as underdeveloped male characteristics and/or overdeveloped female characteristics when he reaches puberty. Which condition does Matthew have?

Down syndrome

Turner’s Syndrome

Klinefelter’s Syndrome

Tay-Sachs Disease

Correct.

Incorrect.

3. The gonads are typically the main indicator of whether a person is male or female. In some cases, however, a person with an XY chromosomal pattern may develop more female-like sex organs and other characteristics. Such cases indicate that the person may suffer from ________ syndrome.

Fragile X

androgen-insensitivity

5-alpha reductase deficiency

phenylketonuria

Correct.

Incorrect.

4. When their baby was first born, Dan and Yueh believed that the child was a girl. She appeared female, but genetic testing revealed her to have an XY chromosomal pattern. They were told that their child was male, and they named him Shua. When Shua hit puberty, a sudden surge of male hormones caused external masculinization of his genitals and made him indistinguishable from other men. Which condition caused this curious case to occur?

5-alpha reductase deficiency

cystic fibrosis

androgen insensitivity syndrome

intersexualization syndrome

Correct.

Incorrect.

5. Ina was born with a 23^rd chromosome pair that would be described as XO rather than XX. Her parents were told that this is a condition that only afflicts girls, and that sometimes the second X-chromosome is absent (like in Ina’s case) and that other times it is just deficient. Which condition is Ina going to learn to deal with?

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Turner’s syndrome

Chromosomal inversion syndrome

Klinefelter’s syndrome

Correct.

Incorrect.

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