SEX
Monoecious (=one house): both male & female reproductive structures in
the same organism (also called a hermaphrodite)
Dioecious (=two houses): either male or female reproductive structures
in one organism
HOW IS SEX DETERMINED IN DIOECIOUS
SPECIES?
1.CHROMOSMAL SEX DETERMINATION
2 major different modes dependent on which sex is heterogametic:
Heterogametic sex = the one whose gametes contain different sorts of
sex chromosome
Homogametic sex = has gametes that all contain the same sort of sex
chromosome
E.g. in humans, flies, etc. the male is XY, the female XX = male
heterogamety. In birds & butterflies (and some amphibians, fish, etc.),
the female = heterogametic and male = homogametic. To make the
distinction clear, we refer to the female heterogametic systems as
ZZ/ZW.
Male heterogametic systems come in numerous varieties:
XX-XY system: XX=female, XY=male. Many mammals, flies
XX-XO system: XX=female, XO=male. O implies absence of a
chromosome. E.g. grasshoppers
X1X2-X1X2O system: X1X2 X1X2 =female, X1X2O=male (X1X2 behaves as a
single chromosome, goes into one gamete) E.g. spiders
X1X2X3X4X5 X1X2X3X4X5- X1X2X3X4X5 Y1Y2Y3Y4Y5 system: e.g. duck billed
platypus
Haplo-diploidy:
In all these systems of multiple sex chromosomes there are still plenty of
non-sex chromosomes (autosomes). It is thought that the sex
determination system evolved in ants, wasps & bees by a system with all
autosomes turning to X and no Y.
Unfertilised haploid eggs develop into males (development of eggs without
fertilisation = parthenogenesis)
, Fertilised diploid zygotes develop into females
All full sisters are identical as regards to the alleles inherited from their
father
2.GENIC SEX DETERMINATION
No sex chromosomes, only the sex-determining genes e.g. Yeast gametes
come in 2 types, a & alpha – just allelic differences at one locus define
the 2 types.
Note that chromosomal systems are also controlled by genes: in mammals,
Sry gene on the Y chromosome determines whether we are male or not.
The difference is that the Y, where Sry resides, doesn’t recombine with
the X, while in yeast the chromosome with the a/alpha gene (chr 3) does
recombine.
However, the pseudoautosomal regions on the tips of our Y and X
chromosomes are homologous and do recombine (behave like autosomes as
they don’t determine sex, but on sex chromosomes)
3.ENVIRONMENTAL SEX DETERMINATION
Limpet’s position in the stack:
In Crepidula fornicata, the common slipper limpet, sex is determined by
an environmental factor – the limpet’s position in a stack of limpets.
Temperature in turtles:
Temperature dependent sex determination (TSD) isn’t the same in all
species
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jessicabrown-11. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £7.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.