Which Chromosome Determines Gender in Humans
Sex Determination
It is a process by which the sex of a person is determined. Genetics is involved in the determination of the sex of a person, which is explained as follows :
- A male has one X chromosome and one
Y chromosome, i.e., half of the male gamete or sperms will have X chromosome and the other half will have Y chromosome. - A female has two X chromosomes, i.e., all the female gametes or ova will have only
X chromosomes. - Sex of a child depends on what happens at fertilisation.
- If a sperm carrying X chromosome fertilises an ovum which carries X chromosome, then the child born will be a girl.
- If a sperm carrying Y chromosome fertilises an ovum which carries X chromosome, then the child born will be a boy.
- Thus, the sperm determines the sex of the child.
- Sex determination is also controlled by the environmental factors in some animals.
- For example, in some reptiles like turtle, high incubation temperature leads to the development of female offsprings, while in case of lizard. high incubation temperature results in male offsprings.
