PSY 324 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Paramesonephric Duct, Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus, Alpha-Fetoprotein
17 Apr 2016
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Sex chromosomes influence development by controlling production of sex hormones (testosterone/estradiol) Sex hormones exert organizing/activating effects on the genitals and the brain. Organizing effects = occur during the sensitive period and last indefinitely. E. g. before birth (developing into male/female anatomy) + puberty (facial hair/breast development) Activating effects when a hormone produces an activity that only lasts as long as the hormone is active. E. g. occur at any time in life (e. g. E. g. occur at any time in life (e. g. sex, The difference between masculine and feminine appearance of external genitals depends on the amount of testosterone during an early sensitive period. Many species reproduce sexually, even though the male does not help with rearing the children. Sexual reproduction increases variation and gives rise to evolutionary adaptations due to environment changes. Some invertebrates reproduce sexually when living in complex/changing environment + asexually when static. Sex also corrects errors: two disadvantageous mutations of different genes can give rise to both normal copies.
