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Sex Verification Testing of Athletes

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Dutee Chand running

Topic

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Nervous & Endocrine Systems
  • Reproduction & Development
  • Scientific Skills & Literacy
  • Science as a Social Process

Resource Type

  • Interactive Media
  • Click & Learn

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Used In
1 BioInteractive Playlists
Saved By
46 Users
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Description

This interactive module explores the biology of sex determination and development in humans, set against the backdrop of the different sex testing policies implemented throughout sports history.

The Click & Learn uses ongoing debates about the eligibility of certain female athletes to participate in women's events as an entry point for students to learn the processes involved in human reproductive development. Students apply what they have learned to evaluate the results of different tests that have been used throughout sports history to qualify female athletes to compete.

The accompanying worksheet guides students’ exploration.

Student Learning Targets

  • Describe how biological sex and gender differ from each other.
  • Describe how mutations in a variety of genes can affect the development of internal and external sex characteristics.
  • Explain how characteristics associated with biological sex may affect athletic performance.

Estimated Time

One to two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

chromosome, differences in sex development (DSD), estrogen, Olympics, ovary, primary/secondary sex characteristic, sex determining region Y (SRY), testes, testosterone, X inactivation

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 07.06.18
Date Updated 01.07.19

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1.A, HS-LS1.B, HS-LS3.B, HS-LS4.ASEP6, SEP8

AP Biology (2019)

IST-1.P, IST-1.J, IST-2.E, IST-4.A; SP1, SP2, SP4, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

3.2, 3.3, 6.6, 10.1, D.5

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

8.1

Vision and Change (2009)

CC2; DP1, DP6

Materials

Student Worksheet (PDF) 327 KB
Desktop App - macOS 10.10 or later, 64-bit (ZIP) 59 MB
Desktop App - Windows 7 or later, 64-bit (ZIP) 59 MB

Related Science News

Science Says: Sex and Gender aren’t the same

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