PSYC 2450 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Genetic Counseling, Twin Study, Monochorionic Twins
1 Oct 2013
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Chapter 3: forming a new life ~ conception, heredity, and environment. Microsystem: birth planned/accident, wanted/unwanted, parents married/unmarried, etc. Macrosystem: if culture encourages large/small families, values one sex over the other, etc. Fertilization: union of sperm and ovum (gametes) fuse to produce a zygote; also called conception. Zygote: one-celled organism resulting from fertilization. Duplicates itself by cell division to form an infant. Infertility: inability to conceive after 12 months of trying. Common causes of infertility in men and woman chart (p. 57) Most common cause in men: low sperm count: as low as 60/200 million makes conception unlikely, some just can"t swim well or ejaculatory duct is blocked, some genetic basis in this. Most common cause in women: blockage of fallopian tubes (many cases is from scar tissue from sti"s: mucus in cervix may prevent sperm from penetrating it, disease of uterine lining may prevent implantation of fertilized ovum.
