published_or_final_version / abstract / Pathology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The Best PhD thesis in the Faculties of Dentistry, Engineering, Medicine and Science (University of Hong Kong), Li Ka Shing prize,2006-2007 / published_or_final_version / abstract / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

XY-women with conditions such as Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) have male sex chromosomes, internal (abdominal) testicular or gonadal streak tissue, and no ovaries or (usually) uterus, but are otherwise female in body form and gender identity/role. Many have no reason to doubt a female sex until they are investigated for failure to menstruate. Using mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative) empirical methodology, the study reveals how XY-women discovered their diagnosis, with an in-depth analysis of the medical and societal discourses that shaped the labels/identities to which they have been subjected or they have assumed. Data was collected by questionnaire from 114 women recruited via a peer support group. The study is interdisciplinary, spanning medicine, psychology, sociology and feminist gender theory. It is informed by a range of theories including patriarchy and medicalisation (including terminology issues), sexual dimorphism, sex versus gender, social construction, abjection, self-surveillance and performativity, and sexual difference and corporeality. Many participants had experienced diagnostic secrecy by doctors, particularly in N. America. Younger participants had benefited from a recent move to truth disclosure. Participants had found the androcentric medical discourse/terminology difficult to reconcile with their female appearance, identity and social role; and did not approve of the degree of medicalisation. Infertility was the greatest personal concern but most thought that possession of a vagina was society's main criterion for womanhood. Most seemed secure in their female gender, although some were aware of a degree of performativity. Knowledge of their male biological attributes seemed problematic for many (especially those with Swyer Syndrome1), with expressions of inauthenticity, fraud or freakishness by some. Participants showed little awareness of gender theory and even the idea of a sex versus gender conceptual split seemed confusing for many, but clearer to those in N. America. The majority seemed to construct a totally female sex, although some entertained the idea of an intersexed sex, particularly those in N. America and those with a lesbian or bisexual orientation. The lesbian/bisexual sub-group, and those with a PAIS diagnosis, also showed the greatest awareness of gender performativity. Advocacy is a key aspect of the project, developing the argument that the androcentric focus of intersex medicine and the poor provision of clinical psychology restricts the opportunities for these patients to explore alternative discourses and non-medical meanings of their diagnosis. 1. But needs clarifying using a larger sample.

No description available.

Using the acetocarmine squash technique to examine pollen mother cells, the meiotic chromosome behavior of each of 16 Rhoeo spathacea plants housed in the Ball State University greenhouse was analyzed with respect to the frequencies of several types of atnormalities and documented with suitable photomicrographs. Among the aberrant types of chromosome behavior resulting from multiple translocations among the 12 chromosomes of each plant were the followings ring and chain formation of chromosomes at diakinesis and metaphase I, adjacent versus alternate chromosome alignment patterns at metaphse I and anaphase I, various abnormal anaphase I and telophase I disjunction patterns, and the presence of excluded chromosomes and micronuclei at telophase I. As a further consequence of the multiple translocations and abnormal chromosome disjunction, many of the pollen grains formed by meiosis were found to be defective and non-viable.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Pollen mother cells from each of eleven Rhoeo specimen plants housed in the Ball State University greenhouse were analyzed for meiotic chromosome behavior and were found to display multiple reciprocal translocations characteristic of the species. Seven of the eleven plants are classified as Rhoeo soathacea var. variegata, while the remaining four plants are classified as Rhoeo spathacea var. concolor. Using the acetocarmine squash technique, 5362 pollen mother cells from the eleven Rhoeo specimen plants were examined and photomicrographs of representative pollen mother cells were used to document data reported. Among the types of aberrant chromosome behavior resulting from multiple reciprocal translocations in the twelve chromosomes of Rhoeo were ring and chain formation at diakinesis, alternate versus adjacent chromosome alignment at metaphase I, atypical segregation patterns at anaphase I and the presence of micronuclei or chromosomes excluded from the daughter nuclei at telophase I. Many prophase I/metaphase I chromosome configurations and a number of anaphase I segregation patterns not previously reported in the literature were observed in this study. As a consequence of aberrant chromosome behavior many of the pollen grains formed during meiosis were defective and non-viable.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-173). Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.