Sex Determination - GCSE Biology Definition

Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor

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Sex determination is the process by which an organism develops as male or female. In humans, this is mainly controlled by the pair of sex chromosomes inherited. If an individual inherits two X chromosomes, they will develop as female; if they inherit one X and one Y chromosome, they will develop as male. However, sex determination can also be influenced by other factors, such as hormones during development. While most animals use chromosomes to determine sex, some organisms, like certain reptiles, rely on environmental factors such as temperature. Understanding sex determination helps us learn how traits are passed from parents to offspring.

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Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewer: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology, Psychology & Sociology Subject Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

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