Chapter 18, Problem 9CT

Katie was getting nervous. At 16, she was the only one in her group offriends who had not started menstruating. Katie had always dreamed of having three beautiful children someday and she was worried. Her mother took her to see Dr. Josephine, who ordered several blood tests. When the results came back, Dr. Josephine gently explained to Katie and her mother that Katie would never be able to have children and would never menstruate. Dr. Josephine then asked Katie to wait in the outer room while she spoke privately to her mother. She explained to Katie's mom that Katie has androgen insensitivity syndrome. Though Katie is genetically male and her gonads produce more of the male reproductive hormone, testosterone. than the female reproductive hormone, estrogen, Katie did not reflect the tissue changes expected. What malfunction in Katie's body would cause this? Why does Katie's body look feminine if she is genetically male?