Topic 13 Sex Being Male and Female
Reproduction Asexual (1 individual): more efficient, low genetic variation Sexual: prevalent (2 sexes, separate or not) High genetic variation, need 2 Approaches: External fertilization (aquatic organisms: corals) Don t need to find mate, produce lots of gametes, success? Internal fertilization (land animals) Need to find mate, fewer gametes, assure reproduction
Primitive Sex First reproduction: in water Sperm and eggs synchronous release More sperm than egg Sperm swims using a flagella to the egg Size difference between gametes Corals: use cycle of the Moon coordinate release zygotes free to settle
Generalities: Males typically larger, stronger, flashier Reality: males may be small, dull, and weak Definition: organism possessing sperm Characteristics: testes: organs producing sperm mammals: Y chromosome (XY) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/common s/thumb/9/9b/male_and_female_a._appensa.jp g/521px-male_and_female_a._appensa.jpg www.kingsnake.com/westindian/metazoa7.html
Generalities: Females typically smaller, weaker, dull Reality: many females are large, strong Definition: organism possessing eggs Characteristics: ovaries: organs producing eggs mammals: lack of a Y chromosome (XX) http://i.ehow.com/images/globalphot o/articles/4697148/amplectantbullfro gs1-main_full.jpg http://i1.treknature.com/photos/8087/img_1868_1.jpg
Sex Determination Systems System Male Female Examples XY System XY XX Mammals (humans) XO System X XX Insects, such as crickets ZW System ZZ ZW Fish, birds, and insects Temperature Hi Lo Turtles, alligators, and crocodiles 2n System n 2n Bees and ants Sequential Wrasses and clown fish
Crocodile Sex Determination Incubating temperature 30 o C all female 32 o C all male 31 o C 50% female, 50% male http://a.abcnews.com/images/sports/rt_thailand_0 80514_ssh.jpg
SRY Gene Sex-determining Region Y On the Y chromosome Steps: testes development testosterone production male secondary characteristics XX: can be male if they have SRY gene XY: can be female if they lack SRY 10 to 12 other sex determination genes
Reproductive Organ Development Y presence Testes Kidney Wolffian duct Gonads Mullerian duct Y absence Ovaries Cloaca Bladder Testosterone 6 wk Probladder Oviduct Uterus Male 14 wk Urethra Testis Penis 14 wk Ovary Female Uterus
Human sexual differentiation Mullerian ducts Female gonads Wolffian ducts Male gonads Humans: Each sex starts off as undifferentiated Default is female Y chromosome: may lead to a male
Sexual Characteristics Primary Characteristics Female Male Gonads Ovaries Testes Internal genitalia Vagina, Uterus, Fallopian tubes Prostate, Seminar vesicles External genitalia Secondary Characteristics Glans clitoris, labia, vulva Breasts, low muscle mass, high fat Glans penis, scrotum Facial hair, high muscle mass, low fat
External Reproductive Organ Development Limb bud 6 wk Cloaca Y presence 9 wk Glans penis 4 wk Glans Urogenital groove Anus Urogenital Groove Y absence 9 wk Scrotum 14 wk Foreskin Glans clitoris Vagina Labium major Labium minor 14 wk
Sex Chromosome Disorders Syndrome Frequency Characteristics Turner Syndrome Kleinfelter s Syndrome XYY Syndrome or Super male Triple X Syndrome 1:4,000 female birth XO Infertile Abnormal 2 nd sex characteristics Webbed neck 1:1,000 male birth XXY Infertile Abnormal 2 nd sex characteristics Long limb physique 1:850 male birth XYY Fertile Normal 2 nd sex characteristics 1:1,500 female birth XXX Fertile Normal 2 nd sex characteristics
Sex Chromosome Disorders Turner Syndrome XO Klinefelter s XXY Webbed neck
Sex and Hormones Testosterone: male hormone (testes) facial hair, muscle development, deep voice, sperm production Estrogen: female hormone (ovaries) breast formation, lower muscle mass, egg maturation Males and females have both hormones ex: Testerone in women maintains sex drive and bone density Estrogen in males important for sperm maturation Cholesterol (27 C) Estrogen (19 C) Testosterone (18 C)
Sex versus Gender Sex is the reproductive potential as a male or female Presence of functional gonads and reproductive organs Male, Female Gender is the behavioral traits as a male or female Psychological perception of being a male or female Transsexual, Transgender Sexual orientation is the sexual behavior toward males or females Heterosexual, Bisexual, Homosexual
Gender Identity Brenda and Brian Identical (male) twins Brenda surgically and chemically a female, but always felt male Is there a biological basis for gender identity?
Humans Homosexuality 2-20% of the population exclusive to casual Occurs in other animals: > 500 species Genetic research: Fruit flies: gene change can cause copulation among males A lot we don t know biologically about sex and gender
Sex and Gender as a Continuum Infertile Asexual Feminine Highly fertile Sexual addiction Masculine
What else? What is color-blindness and how it is inherited? What are x-linked traits?