Introduction
Explain how the genetic sex of a child is determined and two factors related to the possible causes of gender.
There is a definitive way that can be used to determine the gender of a given child, either unborn or born. Karyotype is the procedure that is used to determine the sex/gender composition of an unborn child. It uses blood from the fetus to analyze the composition of the chromosomes of the given individual. A result showing XX chromosomes indicates that the given gender proving to be a girl. XY chromosomes show that the gender of the individual is a boy. All these tests undergo through a lab test in order to determine the exact gender of an individual. In the case of Maria, the tests were not undertaken in a timely manner in order to affirm the gender type before she was born. The assumption that there was a lot of enzymes concentration that brought about the ambiguity in her gender was not just enough to ascertain the sexual composition.
There are two related causes of ambiguous gender;
- Excessive hormones related to the pregnancy; this assumption causes the swelling of the genitals of the newborn. It is therefore difficult to determine with certainty the composition of the individual when they are being born. The perfect example of Maria ascertains this assumption, the mere fact that there was a swelling in her genitals led to the assumption that she was a girl, which turned out later to be opposite.
- Lack of 5-α- reductase enzyme. The absence of this enzyme in a fetus development brings about the absence of development of testosterone. This leads to ambiguity in gender of a newborn individual.
Discuss three physical characteristics of an individual with ambiguous genitilia. Include those of Maria/Mario
- Maria grows up with unidentified sexual orientation then the genitals begins to change as the victim nears puberty. Maria was born the analysis about her sexual composition was misinterpreted to be cause by accumulation of hormones in the genitals. It turned out later that she was not a girl; the more she grew towards her puberty, the more her sexual composition changed from being that of a girl to a boy.
- The facial composition is confusing, but the internal factor such as muscular viability is great. Maria was confused because of her sexual background; her sexual nature was taken to be that of a boy. When she went to school she played tough games like, tie ball, and she performed formidably in this game. This showed that there must have been something amiss in her sexual background.
- Penis begins to grow as puberty approaches. Puberty triggers 5-α- reductase hormone that allows development of testosterone hormone that allows the penis to grow into its full functionality. The voice begins to deepen and all the factors associated with puberty takes places. In the case of Marion, he began to grow the penis as soon as he neared the puberty stage, hence changed her gender from being a girl to being a boy.
A Morale Principle associated to Mario’s Birth Certificate
The principle of providing the gender of a given newborn during their birth is necessary for filing by the government. This allows efficiency and effective production of this vital document. Therefore, the gender of Mario/Maria is too controversial.
In essence, it is quite hard to change Maria’s birth certificate due to the strict legal provision by the government. Given the fact that doctor can convince the respective body concerned with the issuance of this vital document, and then they might consider changing it. Cases of gender ambiguity are common, therefore, in respect to this Mario’s exceptional case, and then he should be considered for a new birth certificate that confirms him as a male.
References
Brown, J. C. (2013). Exploring Contemporary Issues in Genetics & Society: Karyotyping, Biological Sex, & Gender. American Biology Teacher (University Of California Press), 75(9), 692-697
Cristea, C. C., Plaiasu, V. V., Ochiana, D. D., Neagu, R., Gherlan, I. I., & Mardarescu, M. M. (2011). Sexual Ambiguity associated with "in utero" Antiretroviral Exposure. Acta Endocrinologica (1841-0987), 7(4), 551-560.
Gender Neutral?. (2005). Science & Spirit, 16(3), 22.
Siala, O., Belguith, N., & Fakhfakh, F. (2013). An Unusual Case of Peters plus Syndrome with Sexual Ambiguity and Absence of Mutations in the B3GALTL Gene. Iranian Journal Of Pediatrics, 23(4), 485-488.
