Explore the process of sex determination in humans by researching intersex conditions.
Your first project is a research project. You will use the online environment to explore a subject discussed in your text, link key concepts from three chapters into one cohesive presentation, find and use a peer-reviewed research article, and make a one-sentence summary video to be included in your presentation.
Topic Description:
The central dogma of molecular biology describes the process of how DNA becomes RNA and RNA becomes protein:
Chapters 6 – 9 describe these processes at a basic level. In this assignment, you will explore the process of sex determination in humans by researching several intersex conditions that are produced as a result of changes to the sex determination process at one of the levels shown above.
Page 115 of your book describes the chromosomal determination of sex in humans and the intersex condition known as androgen insensitivity syndrome. These genetically male individuals have testes in their abdomens, but outwardly appear female due to changes in the gene that encodes the receptor that responds to testosterone, an androgen. Therefore, even though they may produce testosterone, it does not get received by the cell. This prevents secondary sex characteristics from being expressed in the individuals resulting in their phenotype appearing female.
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome: This XY individual is unable to respond to testosterone due to a change in an androgen receptor protein. The individual’s testes remain in the abdomen and his outward appearance is female.
To successfully complete this project, you will create a Prezi. You can create a free public account here (Links to an external site.). Be sure to choose the free option to the right of your screen when given your options. Prezi Next, which was just released recently, does not embed like the original Prezi. As such, I would recommend using the basic Prezi platform to avoid being penalized for not embedding it correctly.Within your Prezi, I would like you to follow the outline I am providing here. It follows a logical path, from broad understanding to specifics. Each topic should have at least 1 frame within your presentation.
Outline of Presentation:
- Central Dogma of Molecular Biology Overview
- Overview of Sex Determination in Humans
- Primary Sex Determination
- Secondary Sex Determination
- Intersex Conditions
- Turner’s Syndrome
- Kleinfelter’s Syndrome
- Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
- 5-alpha Reductase Deficiency
- Video Summary that includes one of the following options:
- One sentence summary of sex determination in humans (refer to Interactive Exercise #1)
- One sentence describing what a student learned from this project
The specific intersex condition slides should address the following:
- What is the genetic makeup of the individuals in regards to sex chromosomes?
- What is the sexual phenotype of the individuals?
- Are there any other phenotypic changes besides sex in the individual?
- What specifically causes the abnormal phenotype?
As you address the answers to these questions, it should be informed by the information you are reading in Chapters 6-9. Only one of the conditions are discussed in your text book, for the other 4 you will need to do some research online. Being a research project, you will be required to provide a frame of references at the end of your Prezi.
References:
For your references, you may use online sources as long as they are cited. Try to use reputable sites and avoid using Wikipedia as a primary reference. It is also required that you use at least one scientific article as a reference for your project. As a USF student, this is very easy to do. Click on this link (Links to an external site.) and simply type your keywords into the search bar and search millions of scientific articles from peer-reviewed journals. Your journal article does not have to answer one of the questions listed above. It can be about anything pertaining to the outline points. You can add the information from the article anywhere it logically fits. Your references should be cited in APA format.