PSY395H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Santhi Soundarajan, Sex Steroid, Sexual Differentiation
Document Summary
Sexual differentiation the process of becoming female or male. The female ovum (egg) contains an x-chromosome. This becomes fertilized with a sperm (contains x or y) This process is called sexual determination: the chromosomal sex of a female is xx, the chromosomal sex of a male is xy. Chromosomal sex determines gonadal sex: after that all subsequent sexual differentiation is the result of the differential exposure to gonadal sex hormones. In mammals, female external genitalia is the neutral se. Gonadal sex (determines) hormonal sex (regulates) morphological sex. Additional steps are needed for male external genitalia. More steps = more chances of error: males have more steps then females do (female is a default, there is more room for error for men. By studying those that do not fit in the two set gender distinctions endocrinologists can gain insight into normal sexual differentiation. Sexual dimorphic: we are sexually dimorphic in many ways.
