MadSci Network: Development |
I have taken college level anat & phys. I learned that during embryonic development the primitive undifferentiated tissues of sex organs will either go male or female based on the presence or absense of a gene called SRY located on the Y chromosome. This SRY (Sex-determining region) will also stimulate testosterone to be released and further develope the sex organs into the male form. The female sex is like the "default setting" Right? I don't like the term "Hermaphrodite" because it gives people the idea that humans can have both sets of genitalia. Aren't "hermaphrodites" just underdeveloped males? I've heard the terms "trans-gendered" and "intersexuals" used to describe conditions like these. Is is possible for gonads to develope as one teste and one ovary? If so how close to being functional will the gonads be? Do you agree that "hermaphodites" is a bad way of describing such cases? I'm open to constructive criticism. Thanks, this may help to settle a long-lived dispute with a friend and I.
Re: Can a Human be born a true hermaphrodite?
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