Question

Write a short note on sex determination in man.

Answer 1

The difference between two individuals of the same species with respect to heredity is known as sex. So, an individual can either be a male or female in normal circumstances. Scientists have discovered that sex is transmitted by definite sex determination, also called heterosomes. The human body cells have two sex- chromosomes. A woman has two X- chromosomes while a man has one X- chromosome and one Y-chromosome.

Therefore, an egg cell has one X- chromosome and a sperm cell have either an X- or a Y-chromosome. This means that the sex of a baby is determined by the type of sperm cell fertilizing the egg. If an egg, fused with a sperm having Y-chromosome, then the male zygote will develop and when fused with a sperm having an X-chromosome then a female zygote will develop.