What is secondary sex determination in mammals and how do hormones regulate the development of male and female phenotypes?
Understand the Problem
The question discusses the hormonal regulation of sexual phenotype development in mammals, explaining secondary sex determination, the role of various hormones, and the differentiation of reproductive structures in both males and females.
Answer
Secondary sex determination is the development of male and female phenotypes in response to hormones from the ovaries and testes.
Secondary sex determination in mammals is the development of male and female phenotypes in response to hormones secreted by the ovaries and testes. These hormones regulate the formation of secondary sexual characteristics during two major phases: during embryonic development and at puberty.
Answer for screen readers
Secondary sex determination in mammals is the development of male and female phenotypes in response to hormones secreted by the ovaries and testes. These hormones regulate the formation of secondary sexual characteristics during two major phases: during embryonic development and at puberty.
More Information
Secondary sex determination involves hormonal regulation that leads to the development of secondary sexual characteristics, such as facial hair in males and breast development in females.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse primary sex determination, which involves genetic factors, with secondary sex determination, which involves hormonal influence on physical traits.
Sources
- Sex Determination Process - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Minireview: Sex Differentiation | Endocrinology | Oxford Academic - academic.oup.com
