Concept explainers
As outlined in this chapter, sex can be defined at several levels: chromosomal, gonadal, and
An Indian athlete, Santhi Soundarajan, finished second in the 800-meter run at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, in 2006. After the race, she was asked to take a sex test. According to press reports, the tests showed that she “appeared to have abnormal chromosomes.” An official stated that she had more Y chromosomes than allowed. As a result, she was stripped of her medal, banned from further competition by the Indian Olympic Association, and shunned by her local community. Before the race in Doha, Santhi had competed in 8 international competitions and won 12 medals. Sometime after this incident, she attempted suicide. She now runs a training school for athletes in Tamil Nadu, India. Although the number and types of tests done on Santhi have not been revealed, such tests usually involve examination of the external genitals, a chromosome analysis, and measurement of hormone levels.
Suppose you were on the committee deciding whether Santhi could compete as a female. Consider each of the following hypothetical tests one at a time and base your conclusions only on the results of that test. The results of a physical examination show she has female genitals. On this basis, would you allow her to keep her medal and compete as a female in future races? Suppose the results of a chromosomal analysis shows that she has an XY chromosome set and is chromosomally male. Would you allow her to keep her medal and compete as a female? Lastly, suppose a test for hormone levels shows that she has levels of the male sex hormone testosterone that are higher than average for females but at least 10 times lower than the average for males. Would you allow her to keep her medal and compete in future races as a female? Now, put the results of all three tests together, and consider them as a whole. What are your conclusions?
Now, let’s consider the case of a South African runner, Caster Semenya, who won the 800-meter run at the World Championships held in Berlin, Germany, in 2009. After the race, she was asked to undergo sex testing. The IAAF stated that the tests were requested to ascertain whether she had a rare medical condition that gave her an unfair physical advantage. The nature of the tests and their results were not released, but press reports indicate that she did not have ovaries or a uterus, and had testosterone levels intermediate between the averages for males and females. In the end, the IAAF agreed to keep the results of her tests confidential, and Caster was allowed to keep her medal and return to international competition in 2010. In both cases, what the IAAF considers the threshold for determining who can compete as a female has not been stated.
Would you recommend that testing of female athletes be continued to ensure that males do not compete as females? Or should all such testing be banned?
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Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Course List)
- What defines our biological sex? What is the distinction between genetic and anatomical sexuality? Explain how chromosomes influence the internal and outward development of the sexual anatomy (hormones and structures). Is there always a correlation between genetic and anatomical sex? What is the reason, or why not? Describe a situation or disorder in which the internal and exterior sexual anatomy of a person do not match and explain how this would occur. Describe how a binary (male/female) model of sex does not reflect reality. What would a more accurate model look like?arrow_forwardThe biological differences in sex can be seen in genitals, reproductive organs, hormones and chromosomes. TRUE FALSEarrow_forwardhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WMuzhQXJoY&ab_channel=TEDxTalks Question: Do some quick research and find an article, website, blog that represents the views of the "Men's Rights Movement" (please attach the article) What are your thoughts about the subject matter in the context of Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy? What about in terms of Reproductive Justice?arrow_forward
- Four factors are considered when determining a person's biological sex.how each of these four factors is or is not likely to contribute to performance differences between sexesarrow_forwardWith all the sex that occurs in the media, why doesn’t anybody on the soaps or in movies get an STI? (Similarly, hardly anyone gets pregnant unless it’s a made-for-TV movie on the subject.) What messages do they convey about STIs and risk taking? Feel free to reference specific shows/movies. Who should be responsible for safe sex? Should women take a more active role given that most contraceptive methods are made for women? What can men do to encourage safe sex? Discuss the difference between HIV and AIDS.arrow_forwardIn order for sexual intercourse to produce a pregnancy, both partners must experience _____. a. orgasm b. ejaculation c. affection d. none of the abovearrow_forward
- True or False The glans penis and the clitoris are always covered by a prepuce. The ovaries and the uterus are the primary female sex organs. Ejaculation is the discharge of semen from the erect penis. The labia minora of the female genitalia are homologous to the body of the penis Meiosis is unique to the gonads. Sympathetic stimulation of the arteries within the penis causes engorgement of the erectile tissue as arterial flow increases and venous drainage decreases. Mammary glands are modified sudoriferous glands. Prolactin causes the breasts to enlarge and the mammary glands to mature during puberty. Secretions from the vestibular glands moisten and lubricate the vaginal orifice during sexual arousal. 20. The secretory phase of menstruation is from the time of ovulation until the start of the menstrual phase.arrow_forwardSecondary sex characteristics of females include all of the following EXCEPT: Growth of axillary and pubic hair Deposition of fat in the hips and thighs Broadening of the pelvis Breast development Increased bone densityarrow_forwardFour factors are considered when determining a person’s biological sex: 1) chromosomes, 2) hormones, 3) primary sex characteristics that are features essential for sexual reproduction (internal reproductive structures and external genitalia), and 4) secondary sex characteristics, features that typically appear during puberty and are different between the sexes, but are not directly involved in reproduction (for example, females typically have enlarged breasts and widened hips; and males typically have increased facial and body hair, increased muscle mass, and a larger Adam’s apple). Given that the top male athletes outcompete the top female athletes by about 10% in most sports, provide a justification for how each of these four factors is or is not likely to contribute to performance differences between sexes. Factor that helps determine biological sex Likely to affect athletic performance? (Y/N) Justification Chromosomes Hormones…arrow_forward
- Which of the following is true regarding the determinants of sexual development: the presence of the gene for HY antigen on the Y chromosome determines whether a testis develops from the gonadal ridge. the presence of MIS determines whether the Wolffian ducts develop. the presence of estrogen determines whether a vagina develops. the presence of DHT determines whether a prostate develops.arrow_forwardWhen investigating fertility concerns, a common course of action is to rule out sperm cell-related causes of infertility first since obtaining the relevant specimens is generally less invasive. Sperm number and motility are typically the first parameters assessed in a semen sample. Vitality is another commonly assessed parameter, particularly when motility is deemed poor since it allows physicians to differentiate between live non-motile sperm and dead sperm cells. The procedure for determining vitality is to place sperm in a hypotonic solution and observe the specimen under the microscope after a 5-minute incubation. This short incubation time allows for observable cellular changes without causing cell death. What type of microscope would you recommend using to observe sperm cells for this laboratory test and why?arrow_forwardWhen investigating fertility concerns, a common course of action is to rule out sperm cell-related causes of infertility first since obtaining the relevant specimens is generally less invasive. Sperm number and motility are typically the first parameters assessed in a semen sample. Vitality is another commonly assessed parameter, particularly when motility is deemed poor since it allows physicians to differentiate between live non-motile sperm and dead sperm cells. The procedure for determining vitality is to place sperm in a hypotonic solution and observe the specimen under the microscope after a 5-minute incubation. This short incubation time allows for observable cellular changes without causing cell death. What type of microscope would you recommend using to observe sperm cells for this laboratory test and why? Describe what you would expect to observe in the case of a live sperm cell and why? How can you distinguish it from a dead sperm cell in the same sample?arrow_forward
- Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Co...BiologyISBN:9781305251052Author:Michael CummingsPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Human Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305112100Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning