NCJ Number
57499
Journal
JOURNAL OF MENTAL SUBNORMALITY Volume: 15 Issue: 28 Dated: PART 1 (JUNE 1969) Pages: 37-44
Date Published
1969
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE SUMMARIZES THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD OF SEX CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES, THEIR ASSOCIATIONS WITH PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND THEIR TIES WITH AGGRESSION AND MENTAL SUBNORMALITY.
Abstract
SEX CHROMATIN STUDIES, FACILITATED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF MORE MODERN TECHNIQUES, HAVE RESULTED IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF MALES WITH ABNORMAL CHROMOSOME COMPLEMENTS. STUDIES USING SAMPLES OF THE GENERAL POPULATION, OF NEWBORN MALES, AND OF RESIDENTS OF SPECIAL AND STATE HOSPITALS SHOW THAT THERE ARE MALES WITH XXXY COMPLEMENTS, ADDITIONAL X AND Y CHROMOSOMES, 46,XY AND 48 AND 49,XXXY AND XXXXY COMPLEMENTS, AND INDICATE THAT THE PERCENTAGES OF MALES WITH EXTRA X CHROMOSOMES ARE HIGHER AMONG POPULATIONS OF THE MENTALLY SUBNORMAL. HOWEVER, THESE STUDIES HAVE FAILED TO PROVE AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EXTRA X CHROMOSOMES AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS IN NORMAL MALES, ALTHOUGH THEY SUGGEST A POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EXTRA Y CHROMOSOMES AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR. THE PRESENCE OF AN EXTRA X CHROMOSOME RESULTS IN MALE HYPOGONADISM WHEREAS AN EXTRA Y APPEARS TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH NORMAL MALE SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT. THERE IS NO WAY OF ASSESSING THE SIZE OF THE RISKS OF MENTAL SUBNORMALITY OF BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH THESE SEX CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES. THE MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THE ASSOCIATION ARE ALSO OBSCURE. (DAG)