Achim and his wife learn from amniocentesis that the baby they are expecting is a boy. Achim is curious about the process by which this is determined. Describe to Achim how sexual differentiation works.
What will be an ideal response?
The ideal answer should include:
1. Male embryos (with XY chromosomes) and female embryos (with XX chromosomes) each have two identical sets of internal genital structures at 6 weeks.
2. In male embryos, the SRY gene on the Y chromosome turns on at about 7 weeks, instructing one set of structures to form into the testes.
3. The testes produce testosterone, which causes the female internal structures to wither away and the male structures like the prostate gland to continue to develop.
4. In female embryos, the COUP-TFII protein causes the primitive male structures to wither away, and female internal organs develop instead.
You might also like to view...
Understanding the principle of behavioral genetics means understanding that . . .
a. All genetically determined development always takes place under particular environmental conditions b. Genetic interactions are independent of environments c. The nature-nurture distinction is inviolable d. All of the above
Tabatha just learned to move into the sitting position without help. How old is Tabatha?
A. 7 months old B. 8 months old C. 9 months old D. 10 months old
Beatriz is 2 years old; when her brother tells her to hide, she covers her face with a blanket. This is a good example of:
A) assimilation. B) egocentrism. C) conservation. D) accommodation.
The shape of the F distribution depends on the ______.
A. the number of total sample size B. the number of groups C. the number of groups and the sample size in each group D. the variability and mean in the sample