CAS WS 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Cortisol, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Paramesonephric Duct

• School: Boston University
• Department: Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
• Course: CAS WS 101
• Professor: Karen Warkentin

Document Summary

How complexity in the biology of sexual development generates diversity. Y chromosome has a dominant gene: tdf (testis-determining factor)/ sry (sex-determining region of y) This protein is a transcription factor affects expression of other genes, so gonads develop into testes. Testes produce testosterone (t) and anti-mullerian hormone amh. Hormones affect development of body, brain and behavior. M & f both start out with an undifferentiated gonad and two sets of ducts, and one set of ducts degenerates. In m, wolffian ducts become epididymis and vas deferens. In f, mullerian ducts become oviducts and uterus. M anatomy forms under influence of androgens. 46 xy dsd: male external genitalia and testes, but also a womb and fallopian tubes. Ovotesticular dsd: both ovarian and testicular tissue rare reports of people conceiving and bearing a healthy child. 46 xx testicular dsd: male external genitalia, usually caused by presence of sex-determining gene sry.