3.1 Sex Determination


Sex Determination
The DNA is a building plan for a living organism. This plan is finalized when the egg is fertilized and the DNA from the mother and the father join together to form the DNA of the offspring. The sex of the offspring is also fixed at this point. The building plan will include details of what a male bird will look like and similarly what a female bird would look like. We have discussed that each feature of an organism is controlled by a single or a group of genes. The genes that determine the sex in birds are grouped together on a segment of the DNA called the X chromosome. Male birds carry two copies of the X chromosome and are denoted by XX. Female birds carry only one copy of the X chromosome paired with a much shorter chromosome called the Y chromosome. Female birds are therefore denoted by XY. 

 

When the DNAs of the parent birds come together, the father will contribute one of its two X chromosomes. The mother may contribute either an X chromosome or a Y chromosome. If the mother gives an X chromosome the baby ends up with two X chromosomes (XX) and becomes a male. If the mother contributes a Y chromosome, the baby ends up with one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY) and turns out to be a female.

Comments

  1. AOA, Bro I really appreciate this kind and helpful effort of yours, you have written everything very clear and simple so that it is very easily and clearly understandable even for those who don't even know the basics of genetics and pairing. thank you very much for your kind help. but here to mention one thing that i just noticed that you explained about the xy sex determination as opposite to the actual fact. xy is always a male and female possess xx chromosomes. i am still reading the further lessons

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  2. but what you have explained in the next topics it cleary supports this topic i have studied these topics in FSc and i remember xy is male. i will search on internet now again.
    but you are definitely very very helpful thank you again. i really appreciate your work. i was planning to go for lutino alex for long time but did't had enough information to take a start. now definitely i got enough courage to take my first step. and this was the greatest help i found on the internet. you are great.

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  3. mammals are xy-male, xx-female. the birds are the opposite - xx-male, xy-female.

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