Biol 20B: Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 14 — Sex Verification Testing of Athletes
Introduction In this lab, you will learn about the history of sex verification testing of athletes and the science behind the tests used.
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?
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?
8. View the graphic that shows common DSDs. On one end of the spectrum there Is “typical biological female” and on the other end of the spectrum is “typical biological male.” Everything in-between are examples of intersex conditions. Which sex is typically assigned at birth to an individual with a SRY gene mutation (that results in a nonfunctional SRY gene)? Explain why the SRY gene mutation would lead to being assigned at birth the way you said.
9. Think about this: If an embryo made testosterone normally but did not have testosterone receptors in any of its cells, would the embryo develop female reproductive structures, male reproductive structures, or no reproductive structures? Explain your answer.
Part III — Sex Verification: Case Studies Instructions
Select the “Case Studies” tab. Read about the two athletes and the history of sex verification tests. Then use this information to answer the questions below.
Questions to Answer
1. Under the “Sprinter” tab: Which four tests have historically been used to determine an athlete’s biological sex?
2. Say you know the following information about an athlete:
They have typical female sex characteristics (female genitalia fully formed, breasts, no chest hair, no facial hair) • Barr body is absent in their cells • SRY gene is present
Their testosterone levels are above 10 nmol/L
What kind of genetic variation could explain the fact that this athlete has typical female sex characteristics but also a functioning SRY gene and high testosterone level? (Hint: four possible options, A-D, are provided at the bottom of the “Sprinter” page).
3. Under the “Swimmer” tab:
Would the swimmer be able to compete in women’s events in 1966? Explain. • Would the swimmer be able to compete in women’s events in 1968? Explain.
Would the swimmer be able to compete in women’s events in 2011? Explain.
4. Say you know the following information about an athlete:
They have many typical female sex characteristics (female genitalia fully formed, no breasts, no chest hair, no facial hair)
Barr body is absent in their cells
SRY gene is absent
Their testosterone level is measured at 3 nmol/L
What kind of genetic variation could explain the fact that this athlete has typical female sex characteristics no SRY gene, low testosterone level, but no Barr body in their cells? (Hint: four possible options, A-D, are provided at the bottom of the “Swimmer” page).
