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Internet use, Group activity,

Discussion

Object:

Biology

Type of Lesson:

Grade:

11

CSEC OBJ:

C 3: 5 Students should be able to


describe the mechanism of sex
determination in humans.

Term:

UNIT: 15

Continuity and Variation

Duration:

2 X 40 minutes

Lesson: 4

Sex Determination in Humans

Week: 11

Objectives
As a result of this lesson you will/ be able to:
1) use genetic diagrams to explain the determination of sex in
humans.
2) develop an awareness that having a child of a particular sex is not
the mothers fault explain the inheritance of sex in humans.
3) use pedigree charts to determine/predict the results of crosses.
Prerequisite Student Knowledge
You should be familiar with/know that:
1)
2)
2)
3)
4)

The process of meiosis.


sexual reproduction in humans.
the existence of sex chromosomes in human cells.
the use of genetic diagrams to predict and explain genetic crosses.
a Punnett square which is used in a genetic diagram is a graphical
way of demonstrating how the mothers genes and the fathers
genes might combine to produce their offspring. In other words,
this form of graphical representation can be used to make
predictions about the genetic variations that will result from a
particular cross.

Important Points
1) In humans, all chromosomes except X and Y are autosomes.
2) The sex of an organism is determined by sex chromosomes i.e.
the X and Y chromosomes in humans.
3) Sex chromosomes of the normal male are X and Y; the normal
female has two Xs.
4) The X and Y chromosomes share similarities and differences:
They share genes in common. Half of the genes found on the Y are
also found on the X and these genes have nothing to do with a
particular sex.

Student Instructional Material

5) The Y chromosome has genes that are male specific, i.e. they
determine maleness (sex determination), external and internal
reproductive and accessory organs, and sperm production.
6) Although sex chromosomes have similar roles, these X and Y
chromosomes do not truly make up a homologous pair. The human
X chromosome is much longer than the Y chromosome; so, it
contains many more genes which are described as sex linked
because they are present in one of the sex chromosomes. In the
diagram below, the arrows indicate the loci of sex linked genes in
the X chromosome. In this homologous pairing, all those genes are
dominant, because there are no opposing genes in the Y
chromosome to offer dominance.

7) In the male and female gametes, the chromosome number is


halved. Thus, each gamete contains only one sex chromosome.
8) The egg made by the mother only contains the X chromosome. The
sperm made by the father contains either an X chromosome or a Y
chromosome. If the sperm cell which fertilizes the egg cell
contains the X chromosome, then the offspring will be female. If
the sperm cell which fertilizes the egg cell contains the Y
chromosome, then the offspring will be male.
9) The human sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a
population). It is approximately 1:1. The human secondary sex
ratio (i.e. at birth) is commonly assumed to be 105 boys to 100
girls. However, sex ratios at birth or among infants may be
considerably skewed by sex-selective abortion and infanticide.
10) Refer also to the website below:
http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/gender/pdf/sex_determination_
in_humans.pdf
Key Terms
abortion

autosome

infanticide

Student Instructional Material

homogametic heterogametic
linkage

population

Challenge Areas
Form a group of three and find some time to work together to do the
Activity on the Worksheet given in Recommended materials which is
taken from:
Atwaroo-Ali, L. (2003) CXC Biology, Macmillan Caribbean
Publishers, page 352
Equipment/Materials Needed
Textbook, computer and projector, internet access
Note to Student
A Punnett Square is a genetic diagram or form of graphical
representation which can be used to make predictions about the genetic
variations that will result from a particular cross. Please note that in
this class these diagrams are being used to map entire
chromosomes X and Y instead of genes / alleles.
The Worksheet Practical activity will be used for ORR / M / AI
assessments.
Equipment has been set up beforehand - computer/projector/ screen, so
you can download videos and play them.

Student Instructional Material

Introduction
1) Boy of girl? Brief Introductory discussion
a. There is popular belief here in Jamaica, and perhaps
elsewhere too, that: Women are to be blamed for not
having any boys/having all girl children. Answer this:
i.

Who is really responsible for a woman having a boy


or a girl the mother or the father?
Note: Take a little time to think and present your
views. No doubt some of you might already have
done some reading/research (perhaps from the
Important Points sections!) and will know about sex
chromosomes.

b. Keep an open mind about the answer to the question


because in todays lesson, the focus will be the
determination of sex and use of genetic diagrams to predict
the determination of sex in humans. Now, pay careful
attention and make sure that you clearly understand all that
will be done in this lesson.
Body of Lesson
1) Sex determination in humans - Group activity, Internet use,
Discussion
a. Watch this video on screen from this website:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/ht/qt/2816_06.html
(Message in the genes)
Active Feb 2011
Important Point
The father
determines the sex
of the child with the
contribution of either
a sperm cell
containing the X
chromosome or a
sperm cell
containing the Y
chromosome.

b. Work in pairs to read from the following website:


http://www.in-gender.com/xyu/Conception/Conception2.aspx
(Conception Education: Chromosomes Your genetic
blueprint)
Active Feb 2011
i. Ask questions and clarify what you have read and
try to relate it to what was learned about meiosis.
ii. Note the sex chromosomes - XX that are found in
females and XY in males only, and also that the Y
causes maleness. Remember that the others are
called autosomes or body chromosomes.
c. Think what might be the implications of sperms having one
of two different chromosomes i.e. X and Y - while all

Student Instructional Material

eggs have the same type of sex chromosome i.e. only X


chromosomes!
Click for answer: The Y chromosome that causes the
maleness comes from the sperm i.e. only from the
father!

2) Using a genetic diagram to map Sex Determination in humans


Use of Internet and Discussion
a. We can use genetic diagrams to determine sex and to
predict the expected ratios of male to female offspring in
humans.
i. Follow in this SIM as your teacher uses the
diagrams below to explain, in a stepwise manner,
how sex is determined.

Important Point

Note that in this


situation, genetic
diagrams are
being used to map
entire chromosomes X & Y
instead of genes /

alleles.

Figure 4.1: Genetic diagram mapping a cross between a male


and a female
Sex Chromosomes of parents:
XX
x
XY
Phenotypes of parents:
Woman/Female
x
Man/ Male
Gametes
Mother
Only
X
Father
Y
X
Random Fertilization using the Punnett square
Gametes: - Female - X
- Male - X

and
and

X
Y

Offspring - using Punnett square method


X
X
XX
XX
X
XY
XY
Y
Genotypes : 2XX : 2 XY
Phenotypes : 2 Males : 2 Females

Student Instructional Material

ii. What ratios of boys to girls were there in the


offspring?
Click for answer: A 1 male : 1 female ratio
Emphasize that this ratio is because the meeting of
gametes bearing X or Y chromosomes is really just
by chance.
iii. Go to these two websites and read:
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/human_bio/proble
m_sets/human_genetics/09t.html
(Sex determination in humans)
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/mendelian_genetics
/problem_sets/sex_linked_inheritance/09t.html
(Inheritance of X chromosome) Both Active Feb 2011
b. Answer these:
i. From what you have now understood, write the
meaning of the term homogametic and
heterogametic.
Click for answer: This occurs when all gametes
have the same sex chromosome. In humans, all the
ova / female gametes, produced by the mother are
said to be homogametic, because all these cell
possess the XX sex chromosomes.
ii. What is the meaning of the term heterogametic?
Click for answer: In humans, half of the sperm
cells/ male gametes, produced by the father, contain
the X chromo-some while the other half contain the
Y chromosome. Therefore sperm cells or male
gametes are said to be heterogametic because
around half of them contain the X chromosome and
others possess the Y chromosome
iii. In humans, which parent determines the sex of the
child?
Click for answer: The father determines the sex of
the child with the contribution of either a sperm cell
containing the X chromosome or a sperm cell
containing the Y chromosome.

3) Sex linkage Internet use, Discussions


a. During fertilization, when the opposing homologous
chromosomes come together, the smaller Y chromosome
offers no dominance against the genes in the 'extra' X
chromosome. So when the male has an XY chromosome

Student Instructional Material

complement, any sex linked genes present on that extra X


section are freely expressed in the organisms phenotype .
i.

Pause now and read through the Important Points at


the start of this lesson.

b. Some examples of sex-linked characteristics in phenotype


are found in Haemophilia, red-green colour blindness and
hairy ears in men through advancing age.(Source>
http://www.biology-online.org/2/6_sex_chromosomes.htm)

i. Talk about the problem and answer given in the


tutorial at:
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/human_bio/problem_set
s/human_genetics/08t.html (X-linked traits)
Active Feb 2011

ii. Then, go to this website below; scroll down and


look at the diagrams showing the inheritance of
haemophilia and red-green colour blindness
http://rushartsbiology.wikispaces.com/Visuals+-+Unit+6
Active Feb 2011

Look at the females who act as carriers!

4) Pedigree charts Internet use, Working problems, Discussions


a.

Ask students to suggest how they would solve this problem


situation found at this website:
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/human_bio/problem_sets/h
uman_genetics/01Q.html
(Inheritance of an X-liked recessive trait .. colour blindness) Active
Feb 2011
i.

Allow some students to attempt o work it out on the


board. Discuss what they have done and commend
any that are accurate.

ii. Refer students to the tutorial for the problem at this


website:
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/human_bio/problem_sets/hum

Student Instructional Material

an_genetics/01t.html

Active Feb 2011


b. Inform students that what they saw in the tutorial at the
website above is an example of a pedigree chart. Direct
them to the websites below as you use the Power point
slides at the websites to explain the purpose of a pedigree
chart and how it is constructed and used;
http://www.saburchill.com/IBbiology/chapters03/images/05PEDIGREE%20C
HARTS.ppt
Active Feb 1011

http://www.slideshare.net/aus_autarch/pedigree-chartspowerpoint-presentation (Pedigree charts)


Active Feb 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gpXO5LLGWI&featur
e=related
(Pedigree chart instructions)
Active Feb 2011
Closure
In-Class Assignments
1) Review sex determination in humans while viewing the following
video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJzZ7p-47P8&feature=related
Out-of-Class Assignment/Homework
1)

Answer the given at this website:


http://www.biology.arizona.edu/human_bio/problem_sets/human_genetics/09Q.html

Click for answer:


http://www.biology.arizona.edu/human_bio/problem_sets/human_genetics/09t.h
tml

2) Use the test charts at this website below to check for colour
blindness among males and females in your family. If possible test
members from at least three generations.
http://www.toledo-bend.com/colorblind/ishihara.asp
(6 Ischihara Colour test charts)

Student Instructional Material

Active Feb 2011

Supplemental
Glossary of Terms
genetic
recombination

natural formation in offspring of genetic


combinations not present in parents, by the
processes of crossing over or independent
assortment; it is somewhat like a
process of "shuffling" of genes by which new
combinations can be generated.Read more at >>
http://www.answers.com/topic/recombination#ixzz1DhtQinEz

haemophilia

condition in which blood clotting fails to occur.

homogametic

this occurs when all gametes have the same sex


chromosome (See>> http://www.biologyonline.org/dictionary/Homogametic )

heterogametic

this occurs when all gametes have the different


sex chromosomes

CSEC Questions
None
Recommended Materials
Websites to visit
http://www.in-gender.com/xyu/Conception/default.aspx
(Part 1: X- Sperm make Girls, Y - Sperm make Boys) OK Feb 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJzZ7p-47P8&feature=related
(Where do your genes com from?)
Active Feb 2011
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sex_ratio#Natural_ratio
(Sex ratio)

Active Feb 2011

http://rushartsbiology.wikispaces.com/Visuals+-+Unit+6
(Various genetics topic, diagrams)
Active Feb 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir1t9awmUl4&feature=related
(Genetic pedigree charts)
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/human_bio/problem_sets/color_blind
ness/color_blindness.html
Active Feb 2011
Note: Sex Determination Worksheet to be used for Challenge
Area follows!

Student Instructional Material

Bibliography
1. Atwaroo-Ali, L (2003) CXC Biology; Macmillan Caribbean
Publishers
2. Campbell, N. A. (1996) Biology 4th Edition; The Benjamin
/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc
3. Chinnery, L., Glasgow,J., Jones,M., Jones, G. CXC Biology;
(Latest edition) Cambridge.

Student Instructional Material

10

4. Roberts, M. B. V. & Mitchelmore, J. (1985) Biology for CXC;


Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd

Student Instructional Material

11

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