Explain the various intersex conditions that impact specific genetic and physical structures.
What will be an ideal response?
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: The most common cause of sexual ambiguity in XX individuals with XX sex chromosomes is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
Progestin-Induced Virilization: Another condition of individuals with XX sex chromosomes is caused by the mother's use of progestin during pregnancy. In the United States, mothers were given this drug in the 1950s and 1960s to prevent miscarriage. If the timing is right, virilization occurs, which means the fetal genitals are masculinized. The genitals may include, however, an enlarged clitoris or a complete phallus with labia. Occasionally a female infant will be so genitally virilized that she is assigned a male gender identity at birth and raised as a boy.
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome: Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is an inherited genetic condition in which a fetus with XY sex chromosomes is unable to respond to androgens. This insensitivity ranges from mild to extreme and results in the newborn having female genitalia. In its mild form there may be some variation in the appearance of the genitals, including a larger clitoris or small penis. Individuals who have the extreme form (complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, or CAIS) lack a vagina, uterus, cervix, or ovaries, and they are infertile.
Klinefelter Syndrome: In the condition known as Klinefelter syndrome people inherit an extra X chromosome from either the father or the mother. The typical result, then, is XXY sex chromosomes.
Turner Syndrome: In Turner syndrome, which occurs only in females, cells are missing all or part of an X chromosome. Most commonly, then, the female has only one X chromosome. Some may have two X chromosomes, but one of them is incomplete. Sometimes, a female has some cells with two X chromosomes, and other cells have only one.
5-Alpha-Reductase Deficiency: The rare condition 5-alpha-reductase deficiency occurs in genetic males. This condition does not allow a fetus to convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is necessary for the development of male genitalia. The absence of DHT tends to result in ambiguous genitalia at birth; there may be a small or microscopic penis with testes and a vagina and labia. The small penis is capable of ejaculation but it looks like a clitoris at birth.
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What is the best explanation for why "human birth" is particularly more difficult than the births of other mammals?
a. Humans are bipeds and have a more narrow pelvis b. Human emotions are unique. c. Humans tend to have less strength than most other mammals. d. Humans tend to lie on their backs while birthing.
A brother and sister growing up in the same house frequently witness their parents’ violent and coercive behavior toward each other. Research would suggest that the boy will be _______later in life, and the girl will be _______ later in life.
a) less likely to commit abuse; less likely to commit abuse b) more likely to be abused; more likely to commit abuse c) less likely to commit abuse; less likely to be abused d) more likely to commit abuse; more likely to be abused
The signal amplification bias occurs when . . .
a) We believe others are more romantically interested in us than they actually report b) Our attempt to hide our fear of rejection interferes with receiving others’ romantic signals c) We feel we are expressing more romantic interest to a potential partner than is actually the case d) We would like to go out with someone who does not feel the same way about us
Which of the following is an advantage of progestin-only pills?
A. They have a typical-user failure rate that is distinctly lower than that of combination pills. B. They are a safer alternative to combination pills for women over 35 who smoke. C. They regularize the menstrual cycles of women who take them regularly. D. They can be taken by women in the first six weeks after birth when breast-feeding.