XY sex-determination system
XY sex-determination system
The XY sex-determination system is a sex-determination system used to classify many mammals, including humans, some insects (Drosophila), and some plants (Ginkgo). In this system, the sex of an individual is determined by the pair of sex chromosomes (gonosomes) they possess.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˌeks waɪ sɛks dɪˌtɜr mɪˈneɪ ʃən ˈsɪs təm/
Etymology
The term "XY sex-determination system" is derived from the presence of two types of sex chromosomes, X and Y, in this system. The term "sex-determination" refers to the process by which an organism develops into a male or female.
Description
In the XY sex-determination system, individuals typically have two of the same kind of sex chromosome (XX), and are called female, or two different kinds (XY), and are called male. Males produce sperm cells, which contain either an X or a Y chromosome, while females produce ova, which always contain an X chromosome.
Related Terms
See Also
- ZW sex-determination system
- XO sex-determination system
- Haplodiploidy
- Environmental sex determination
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on XY sex-determination system
- Wikipedia's article - XY sex-determination system
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