Klinefelter Syndrome essays

Klinefelter Syndrome essays Doctor Harry Klinefelter and other men that he worked with discovered Klinefelter Syndrome. They published an article about nine men that they saw at a Massachusetts General Hospital who were unlike the men you could see normally on the street. This genetic disorder was of special interest to myself after watching a 20/20â„ ¢ program a few years back that discussed the life of an individual that suffered from Klinefelter Syndrome. Before watching that specific show Klinefelter Syndrome never occurred to me to exist. Now given the opportunity to research a genetic disorder, this one definitely jumped out. Klinefelter Syndrome can happen when a child is born with the genotype of XXY instead of XY. Since the child is born with an extra chromosome that determines its gender the chromosome that is affected it the 23rd one. The normal genotype for a female is XX while the normal genotype for a male is XY. Since the individual still has a Y chromosome they are still technically male, but with a hormonal imbalance. About one out of every 500 to 800 males is born with the disorder and approximately 3% of the infertile male population has the syndrome. [pg. 637 GALE] Individuals with Klinefelter Syndrome usually experience social and/or school learning problems, sterility, small breast development and incomplete masculine body build. Testosterone treatment ideally occurs when the male enters puberty. This treatment helps by increasing muscle size and promoting facial hair growth, however it does not help produce sperm and infertility cannot be fixed. There is also a psychological change as the individual can begin to be more self-confident [NICHD]. There are many benefits to this treatment including a decreased need for sleep and a better handle on concentration. Gene therapy is not an option as a treatment for this genetic disorder and there is no cure. Testosterone treatment can help, but it cannot fully ch ...