32. What happens to the sexual development of a fetus (genes not specified) that is exposed to lower than the normal amounts of both testosterone and estrogen during early development?
a. It develops a more or less normal male appearance
b. It develops a more or less normal female appearance
c. It develops an appearance intermediate between the normal male and female patterns
d. It develops an immature appearance that resembles neither male nor female
I chose answer C. I think it is right, but this section was confusing. No matter how many times or ways I read it, I could not exactly understand it… Please help!
In the absence of male hormones, at the right stage, the fetus developes with female appearance.
It is not only the hormones, but the period when the hormones are present.
To understand the answer to this question, let's break down the key information.
The question mentions that a fetus, with no specific genes specified, is exposed to lower than normal amounts of testosterone and estrogen during early development.
Testosterone is a hormone typically associated with male development, while estrogen is usually associated with female development. However, it's important to note that both hormones are present in varying amounts in males and females, and they play different roles in sexual development.
Now, let's look at the options provided:
a. It develops a more or less normal male appearance
b. It develops a more or less normal female appearance
c. It develops an appearance intermediate between the normal male and female patterns
d. It develops an immature appearance that resembles neither male nor female
Option a can be ruled out because the fetus is exposed to lower than normal amounts of testosterone, which is required for typical male development.
Option b can also be ruled out because the fetus is exposed to lower than normal amounts of estrogen, which is necessary for typical female development.
Option c is the likely answer because the reduced levels of both testosterone and estrogen would result in an appearance intermediate between the normal male and female patterns. This means the fetus may develop characteristics or traits that are neither fully male nor fully female.
Option d, developing an immature appearance that resembles neither male nor female, doesn't accurately describe the effects of reduced testosterone and estrogen levels during fetal development.
Therefore, based on the information given, option c - "It develops an appearance intermediate between the normal male and female patterns" - seems to be the most appropriate answer.