Biological Explanations

Question 1

What is the biological gender of a baby determined by?

Answer 1

Chromosomes

Question 2

How many pairs of chromosomes does an embryo have?

Answer 2

23

Question 3

What is each pair of chromosomes made up of?

Answer 3

An ovum and a sperm

Question 4

What does the 23rd pair of chromosomes determine?

Answer 4

The sex of the baby

Question 5

What gives the embryo the X chromosome?

Answer 5

The ovum

Question 6

What chromosome does the ovum give the foetus?

Answer 6

X

Question 7

What chromosome can the sperm give?

Answer 7

An X or Y chromosome

Question 8

What chromosome pair makes a girl?

Answer 8

XX

Question 9

What chromosome pair makes a boy?

Answer 9

XY

Question 10

What sex do XY chromosomes make?

Answer 10

A boy

Question 11

What sex do XX chromosomes make?

Answer 11

A girl

Question 12

When do the genes prompt the gonads to become sexual organs?

Answer 12

Around 6 weeks after conception

Question 13

What prompts the gonads?

Answer 13

Genes

Question 14

What do the genes prompt?

Answer 14

Gonads

Question 15

What happens at around 6 weeks after conception?

Answer 15

The genes prompt the gonads to become either testes or ovaries

Question 16

What are the types of sexual organs?

Answer 16

Ovaries and testes

Question 17

What happens in XY foetuses around 6 weeks after conception?

Answer 17

The testes begin to release testosterone

Question 18

What happens when testosterone begins to be released?

Answer 18

It stimulates the development of male internal organs and leads to increased development in the right hemisphere of the brain

Question 19

What happens without the influence of testosterone?

Answer 19

This happens in the XX embryo and it begins to develop female characteristics

Question 20

What piece of evidence relates to genes?

Answer 20

David Reimer

Question 21

Explain the case of David Reimer…

Answer 21

After a surgical error David’s parents decided to raise him as a girl. Despite their efforts, she never fitted in and preferred playing with boys toys. On discovery of the truth of his biological sex he decided to reassign his gender as male.

Question 22

What are the biological explanations of gender?

Answer 22

Genes

Hormones - testosterone and oestrogen

Question 23

What does the case of David Reimer tell us about the influence of genes on gender…

Answer 23

That genes have a greater influence over hormones and social influence. This is apparent because his parents efforts to raise him as a girl failed. Also because he had his testicals removed, this meaning he was unable to produce testosterone. If hormones had a greater influence than genes you would have expected David to have not had make urges.

Question 24

Why can’t we be sure David’s findings are reliable?

Answer 24

Because this is a case study meaning it is highly unlikely/impossible this situation would arise again so the results cannot be replicated. David’s experience may be an anomaly and others in the situation may have been more influenced by hormones. Also, extraneous variables cannot be controlled, this may have had a great impact on David who had a difficult family life and a schizophrenic twin.

Question 25

What leads to increased development in the right hemisphere of the brain?

Answer 25

Release of testosterone

Question 26

What is the right hemisphere associated with?

Answer 26

Visual-spatial processing

Question 27

What develops less quickly in XY foetuses?

Answer 27

The left hemisphere of the brain

Question 28

Which area of the left hemisphere develops particularly slower?

Answer 28

Wernicke's area

Question 29

What is the left hemisphere of the brain associated with?

Answer 29

Verbal abilities

Question 30

How does the hormonal influence affect biological females?

Answer 30

They develop brains that give them better language skills

Question 31

How does the hormonal influence affect biological males?

Answer 31

They develop better spatial skills

Question 32

What is one consistent finding across many cultures?

Answer 32

The universal behaviour of boys spending more time in rough and tumble play than girls

Question 33

What studies are relevant to testosterone?

Answer 33

Young et al | Money and Ehrhardt

Question 34

What were the findings of young et als study?

Answer 34

Female monkeys who were exposed to make hormones when in the uterus engaged in my rough and tumble play than the control group.

Question 35

Evaluation points for young et al's study...

Answer 35

Animal study - can't generalise results due to differences in biology

Question 36

What were Money and Ehrhardt's findings?

Answer 36

Females exposed to make hormones in the womb engaged in more rough and tumble play then the control group

Question 37

What commentary is relevant to testosterone?

Answer 37

A discussion of congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Question 38

What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia?

Answer 38

A genetic disorder that leads to unusually high levels of testosterone being produced by the adrenal gland, this started before the baby is born and in girls often leads to having partially masculinised genitalia

Question 39

What have studies of girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia revealed?

Answer 39

Girls with this disorder play in a more boyish way and engage in rough and tumble play and often have very good spatial skills even though their parents raise them as girls

Question 40

What do the findings of studies on CAH girls suggest?

Answer 40

That high levels of pre-natal androgens influencers their behaviour to be masculine rather than socialisation.

Question 41

What do studies findings suggest about levels of oestrogen?

Answer 41

That there is a link between levels of oestrogen and verbal abilities

Question 42

What studies support the theories of oestrogen and verbal abilities?

Answer 42

Van Goozen et al

Question 43

What were Van Goozen et al's findings?

Answer 43

They found that after a course of 12 weeks of taking oestrogen and anti-androgens transsexual men's scores on verbal fluency improved whilst they're visual-spatial skill deteriorated

Question 44

What debates are relevant to this theory?

Answer 44

Determinism and socially sensitive

Question 45

Explain the socially sensitive debate...

Answer 45

This theory suggests men and women are biologically better at certain things which could lead to problems in society such as discrimination. An employer may choose a female for a job which requires verbal skills based on this, when in fact there may be a better suited make. Obviously this is unacceptable which is why in this country we have legislation such as the equality act 2010 in place.

Question 46

Explain the deterministic debate...

Answer 46

It claims the way we behave is innate and we have no choice over it. As a result, those with higher levels of testosterone may try to blame their aggressive behaviour on their hormones which is clearly unacceptable and why this is not a valid excuse in court.