Genetic Basis For Some Cases Of Early Puberty Identified

Scientists Find Gene Mutation That Spurs Early Puberty by Liz Szabo.  USA TODAY.  June 5, 2013.

(1)  Early puberty is defined as the development of secondary sex characteristics before ______ in girls and before age ______ in boys.

(2)  About _____% of 7-year-old girls show the beginnings of breast development according to a 2010 study.

(3)  Early puberty increases a girl's later risk of _________________________________>

(4)  True of False:  The trend of early puberty is slowing.

(5)  Mutations in a gene called ____________ was found in cases in which early puberty runs in the family.

(6)  Normally the gene MIRN3 acts as a _____________________.

(7)  __________ or ___________ factors likely interact with genes to affect the age of puberty.

(8)  Being ____________ increases a girl's risk of early puberty.

(9)  Sometime __________ therapy can help slow the early puberty process.  

Boys Hit Puberty Sooner Now, Study Finds by Alan Mozes.  U.S. News and World Report.  October 20, 2012.

Building upon research from the 1990's which showed that girls are entering puberty at an earlier age,  University of North Carolina public health researchers have found that boys are also entering puberty earlier.  They have found that black boys are entering puberty at 9, whites at 10, and Hispanics at 10-11.  The researchers were surprised at this result since the factors that sped the process in girls should have slowed the process in boys.  Of concerns was the growing gap between physical and social maturation.