psychology gender development
1. scribe what is meant by the biological approach, giving at least three features of the approach in your answer. (6 marks)
2. Outline what is meant by ‘the central nervous system’ and ‘genes’. (4 marks)
Central nervous system is the complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body. In vertebrates it comprises the brain and spinal cord. Genes are a unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
3. Describe the role of genes in sex assignment. (4 marks)
Genes have 23 pairs of chromosomes with one pair of sex cell which determine the gender of the foetus from both parents. The 23rd pair of chromosome will either be a XX (female) or XY (male), X from the mother and Y from the father. A gene in the Y chromosome is called a SRY produces a protein called testis-determining factor, which turns the developing gonads into testicles rather than ovaries. So, if there is no Y chromosome the foetus will develop into a female with full female sex organs.
4. Explain how hormones work in sex assignment. Include one example of abnormal sex assignment that is due to hormones. (6 marks)
Y chromosomes ensure that the Gonads of males develop into testes rather than female hormones. Hormones are responsible for the physical difference between males and females. Before birth of a child, exposure of sex hormones has a permanent organisational effect on the development of sex organs so that males develop testes and a penis and females develop ovaries and a vagina. Six weeks into pregnancy foetus develop, protein hormones call H-Y antigens which release if there is a y chromosome present in the foetus’s genes.
5. Evaluate the biological explanation of gender behaviour/development. (6 marks)
The biological explanation of gender
2. Outline what is meant by ‘the central nervous system’ and ‘genes’. (4 marks)
Central nervous system is the complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body. In vertebrates it comprises the brain and spinal cord. Genes are a unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
3. Describe the role of genes in sex assignment. (4 marks)
Genes have 23 pairs of chromosomes with one pair of sex cell which determine the gender of the foetus from both parents. The 23rd pair of chromosome will either be a XX (female) or XY (male), X from the mother and Y from the father. A gene in the Y chromosome is called a SRY produces a protein called testis-determining factor, which turns the developing gonads into testicles rather than ovaries. So, if there is no Y chromosome the foetus will develop into a female with full female sex organs.
4. Explain how hormones work in sex assignment. Include one example of abnormal sex assignment that is due to hormones. (6 marks)
Y chromosomes ensure that the Gonads of males develop into testes rather than female hormones. Hormones are responsible for the physical difference between males and females. Before birth of a child, exposure of sex hormones has a permanent organisational effect on the development of sex organs so that males develop testes and a penis and females develop ovaries and a vagina. Six weeks into pregnancy foetus develop, protein hormones call H-Y antigens which release if there is a y chromosome present in the foetus’s genes.
5. Evaluate the biological explanation of gender behaviour/development. (6 marks)
The biological explanation of gender