Biol 20B: Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 14 — Sex Verification Testing of Athletes
Part I — Sex Verification: Introduction Instructions Visit https://media.hhmLorgibiointeractive/click/testine-athletes/
Select the “Introduction” tab and watch the opening video. After watching the video, scroll down and read the text. As you read, click on the underlined terms to learn more about them. When you have finished, answer the questions below.
Questions to Answer 1. Some people have argued that “a high level of testosterone provides an unfair advantage in women’s athletics.” What evidence supports this claim? Is this adequate evidence to say the claim is true?
2. Click on the term “biological sex.” Describe how biological sex and gender differ from each other.
3. Are sex verification tests of athletes used to determine biological sex or gender? Explain why you selected sex or gender.
Part II — Sex Verification: Human Development Instructions Select the “Human Development” tab. This section will contain some information you don’t need to know, so focus your attention on the questions below and find the answers to them!
Questions to Answer 1. If a baby is assigned female at birth, are they more likely to be 46,XX or 46,XY? Explain. 2. What does the presence of a Barr body indicate? 3. What is the function of the SRY gene found on the Y chromosome?
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4. Examine the graph showing blood testosterone levels in elite male and female athletes. Fill in the following data: • Female testosterone concentrations can range from nmol/L to nmol/L • On the graph, the single most common female testosterone concentration is nmol/L • Male testosterone concentrations can range from nmol/L to nmol/L • On the graph, the single most common male testosterone concentration is nmol/L
5. Based on the information you learned in the last question, is there a testosterone concentration that can definitively separate female elite athletes from male elite athletes? Explain your answer.
6. Could you determine an elite athlete’s biological sex just based off their secondary sex characteristics? Explain your answer.
7. What does DSD stand for? How common are DSDs?
