Gender is determined by sex chromosomes. XX produces a female, XY a male. Males are produced by the action of a gene on the Y chromosome that contains the code for the production of a protein called H-Y antigen – this causes the development of the gonads to testes. If there is no testicular hormone, the Mullerian system (embryonic precursors to female reproductive organs) will develop female sex organs and the Wolffian system (embryonic precursors to male reproductive organs) will fail to develop. That is, in the embryo, there are “potential†reproductive organs waiting to develop, but without the correct hormone, they will not develop into the correct organs. There is a condition called Turner’s Syndrome. People with Turner’s Syndrome have only one sex chromosome – the X chromosome – so instead of XX or XY, they are XO. The ovum that gives rise to an individual with Turner’s Syndrome has been fertilised by a sperm that has lost its Y chromosome. As the Y chromosome is not present, the H-Y antigen is not produced, so the testes do not develop. As only one X chromosome is present, the ovaries do not develop. However, even though they have no gonads at all, people with Turner’s Syndrome develop into females with normal female internal sex organs.
Sexual maturity occurs when the hypothalamus begins to secrete gonadotrophin releasing hormone, which stimulates the secretion of follicle stimulating hormone and lutenizing hormone by the anterior pituitary gland. These hormones stimulate the gonads to secrete their hormones and cause the body to develop secondary sexual characteristics, such as breasts, pubic hair.
Want to learn more? This course will develop your understanding of how a person’s state of mind affects their physical body, and how changes in the physical body affect state of mind and behaviour; and how the mind can affect the physical state of the body.
Comment from one of our Biopsychology Students:
"I thoroughly enjoyed the course and found ACS to be wonderful in all aspects"
D. Kenyon, ACS Biopsychology student
What you will learn:
Describe the nature & scope of biopsychology
Explain how different people can perceive the same stimulus in different ways, due to biological differences between them.
Explain how the condition and functioning of the nervous system can affect the psychology of an individual.
Explain how the condition and functioning of the endocrine system can affect the psychology of an individual.
Describe the relationship between psychological stress and the physical response of the body.
Discuss the relationship between emotions and the physical nature of the body.
Discuss the relationship between consciousness and the physical nature of the body.
Discuss the relationship between consciousness and the physical nature of the body.
There are eight lessons :
- Introduction
Types of external and internal stimuli, mind-body debate, introduction to the nervous system.
- The senses
Sensory input, sensory perception, description of the major senses.
- The Nervous System
Description of the neurons, the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, including the autonomic nervous system.
- The Endocrine System
Effect of hormones on behaviour and physiology, association of endocrine system and nervous system, connection between external and internal stimuli.
- Stress
Types of stressors, physical affects of stress, personality & stress.
- Emotions
Homeostasis, eating disorders, physiological responses to emotions, theories of emotion.
- Consciousness
Degrees of consciousness, awareness & attention, altered states of consciousness.
- Project
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