gonochorism
Distinct male female
Gonochorism is the reproductive system in which organisms are either male or female, not both.
Most vertebrates, including humans, are gonochoristic—individuals develop as one sex and remain that sex throughout life.
The term contrasts with hermaphroditism, where individuals possess both male and female reproductive organs.
Gonochorism is the norm in mammals and birds.
Sperm-producing sex
- femaleOffspring-bearing sex
- unisexualOf one sex only
- dioeciousHaving separate male, female organisms
- dimorphicHaving two forms
sex determination · secondary sex characteristics · courtship · mating · pairing · breeding · offspring · zygote
Possessing both sex organs
- sexual selectionTrait-driven reproductive advantage
- reproductive strategyApproach to producing young
- fitnessGood physical shape
- adaptiveAble to change accordingly
Reproductive cells for fusion
- spermMale reproductive cell
- eggReproductive cell in shell
- fertilizationGamete fusion creating zygote
- spermatogenesisMale gamete formation
oogenesis · gonads · testes · ovaries · meiosis · zygote · copulation · spawning
DNA that determines gender
- X-chromosomeSex-linked genetic structure
- Y-chromosomeMale-determining genetic unit
- sex-linkedCarried on chromosomes determining gender
- karyotypeOrganized chromosome display
alleles · genotype · phenotype · inheritance · heterozygous · homozygous · recombination · sex ratio
Chief male sex hormone
- estrogenFemale reproductive hormone
- endocrine systemHormone-producing gland network
- hormonesBloodstream signaling molecules
- androgensMasculinizing steroid hormones
puberty · maturation · sexual development · pituitary · hypothalamus
male
Sperm-producing sex
dimorphic · sex determination · secondary sex characteristics · courtship · mating · pairing · breeding · offspring · zygote · embryo
hermaphroditism
Possessing both sex organs
- sexual selectionTrait-driven reproductive advantage
- reproductive strategyApproach to producing young
- fitnessGood physical shape
gametes
Reproductive cells for fusion
- spermMale reproductive cell
- eggReproductive cell in shell
- fertilizationGamete fusion creating zygote
spermatogenesis · oogenesis · gonads · testes · ovaries · meiosis · zygote · copulation · spawning · sexual reproduction
sex chromosomes
DNA that determines gender
- X-chromosomeSex-linked genetic structure
- Y-chromosomeMale-determining genetic unit
- sex-linkedCarried on chromosomes determining gender
karyotype · alleles · genotype · phenotype · inheritance · heterozygous · homozygous · recombination · sex ratio
testosterone
Chief male sex hormone
- estrogenFemale reproductive hormone
- endocrine systemHormone-producing gland network
- hormonesBloodstream signaling molecules
androgens · puberty · maturation · sexual development · pituitary · hypothalamus
- sex geneticssex chromosomes, X chromosome, Y chromosome, sex determination, SRY gene
- marine larvaelarva, larval stage
gonochorismhermaphroditism
Possessing both sex organs
hermaphrodism · bisexuality · androgyny · asexual reproduction