Athlete 1
Anatomical Test: PASS
Barr Body Test: FAIL
SRY gene Test: PASS
Hormone Test: PASS
Athlete 2
Anatomical Test: PASS
Barr Body Test: PASS+FAIL
SRY gene Test: FAIL
Hormone Test: PASS
Athlete 3
Anatomical Test: PASS+FAIL
Barr Body Test: PASS
SRY gene Test: PASS
Hormone Test: FAIL
Athlete 4
Anatomical Test: PASS
Barr Body Test: FAIL
SRY gene Test: FAIL
Hormone Test: FAIL
Athlete 5
Anatomical Test: PASS+FAIL
Barr Body Test: FAIL
SRY gene Test: FAIL
Hormone Test: FAIL
You be the doctor
Imagine you are a medical doctor responsible for verifying the sex of competitors in women’s events in an international track and field competition. Using the information given for each athlete, mark on the chart whether you believe they pass or fail each type of sex verification test. An athlete who “passes” a sex verification test is allowed to compete in women’s competitions.
Athlete 1: Physical characteristics: female genitals fully formed
Genetic test findings: no Barr body present, no SRY gene present
Hormone test findings: Testosterone (T) = 1.2 nmol/L
Athlete 2: Physical characteristics: female genitals fully formed
Genetic test findings: Barr body present in some cells and absent in others, SRY gene present
Hormone test findings: Testosterone (T) = 3 nmol/L
Athlete 3: Physical characteristics: genitals neither typically male nor typically female
Genetic test findings: Barr body present, SRY gene absent
Hormone test findings: Testosterone (T) = 6.3 nmol/L
Athlete 4: Physical characteristics: female genitals fully formed
Genetic test findings: Barr body absent, SRY gene present
Hormone test findings: Testosterone (T) = 25 nmol/L
Athlete 5: Physical characteristics: genitals neither typically male nor typically female
Genetic test findings: Barr body absent, SRY gene present
Hormone test findings: Testosterone (T) = 12 nmol/L
In the following table, try to fill in the blanks with PASS, FAIL, or PASS+FAIL.
Athlete
Anatomical Test
(female genitals fully formed)
Barr Body Test
(Barr body present)
SRY gene Test
(SRY gene absent)
Hormone Test
(T < 5nmol/L)
Athlete 1
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Athlete 2
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Athlete 3
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Athlete 4
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Athlete 5
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1 answer
1 answer