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Atypical sex chromosome patterns - Coggle Diagram
Atypical sex chromosome patterns
Klinefelter's Syndrome
an example of an
Atypical sex chromosome pattern
it effects 1 in 600 males
individuals with the condition are biological males - with the anatomical appearance of a male - and have an additional X chromosome
e.g., their sex chromosome structure is XXY
although 10% of cases are identified by prenatal diagnosis, it is thought that around 2/3 of people who have Klinefelter's syndrome are not aware of it.
diagnosis usually comes about accidentally via medical examination for some unrelated condition
treatment for this is
testosterone injections
Physical characteristics
reduced body hair compared to an XY male.
may be some breast development at puberty (gynaecomastia) and a 'softening' or 'rounding' of body contours
long, gangly limbs, underdeveloped genitals
reduced body hair, problems with co-ordination and general clumsiness
XXY men are also more susceptible to health problems that are usually more commonly found in females, e.g. breast cancer.
Psychological characteristics
poorly developed language skills and reading ability
individuals tend to be passive, shy & lack interest in sexual activity
some tend not to response well to stressful situations & may often exhibit problems with 'executive functions', such as memory & problem-solving
Turner's Syndrome
approximately 1 in 5000 biological females have Turner's Syndrome, caused by an absence of one of the two allotted X chromosomes - referred to as XO
this means affected individuals have 45 chromosomes rather than the usual 46
treatment for this is
oestrogen injections
Physical Characteristics
do not have menstrual cycle (amenorrhoea)
their ovaries do not develop & thus they're unfertile
do not develop breast at puberty & instead have a broad 'shield' chest
associated with low set ears and a 'webbed' neck (an area of folded skin that runs along the neck to the shoulders)
there's a high waist-to-hip ratio in that the hips aren't much bigger than the waist.
generally more physically immature & tend to retain appearance of prepubescent girls
Psychological characteristics
higher than average reading ability
lower than average performance of spatial, visual memory with mathematical tasks
socially immature & may have trouble relating to their peers and experience difficulty 'fitting in'
EVALUATION
Support for nature
P: Research into these syndromes contributes to our understanding of the nature-nurture debate
E: by comparing people who have these conditions with chromosome-typical individuals it become possible to see psychological and behavioural differences and how these influence gender.
E: strength - supports innate 'nature' influence having a powerful effect of psychology and behaviour
Counterpoint - support for nurture
P: having chromosomal abnormalities & the behaviours associated with them are not casual.
E: env & social influences could actually cause these behaviours - e.g. Turner's Syndrome cause a childlike appearance which means other may treat them like children - resulting in immature behaviour.
E: weakness - we can't assume that the chromosomal differences are what are causing the behaviour - i.e., it could actually be the result of nurture.
real-world applications
P: continued research into atypical sex chromosome patterns is likely to lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of Turner's and Klinefelter's as well as more positive outcome in the future
Sampling issues
P: Identifying a large enough sample to study is difficult as characteristics range from mild to severe, so only severe cases tend to be identified.
E: Richard Boada et al. (2009) report that prospective studies (following XXY individuals from birth) have produced a more accurate picture of the characteristics - many individuals with Klinefelter's do not experience significant cognitive or psychological problems and many are highly successful academically and in their personal lives and careers.
E: weakness - suggests that the typical picture of Klinefelter's (and Turner's syndrome) may well be exaggerated.
not all individuals conform to the typical XX or XY chromosome patterns
any sex chromosome pattern that deviates from the usual XX/XY formation is referred to as '
atypical
'
why study theses chromosomal abnormalities
psychologists can compare people with typical sex chromosome patterns to people with atypical sex chromosome patterns
inference can then be made as to whether or not difference in gender may be biological/chromosomal which helps to develop the argument about whether gender is as a result of nature or nurture.