Sex is a Spectrum: Sex Determination

• Sex = spectrum, not a binary

• interaction of sex chromosomes, anatomy, hormones

• overview of sex determination process

• different ways sex determination can be impacted - #1: sex chromosome aneuploidies such as turner/klinefelter syndrome can all lead to typical “female” and “male” secondary characteristics

• different ways sex determination can be impacted - #2: androgen insensitivity syndrome where testosterone is not recognized by receptors, leading to female secondary characteristics even with a Y chromosome

• different ways sex determination can be impacted - #3: SRY gene mutations or translocation can lead to “switched” development despite chromosomes

• emphasize that this list in not exhaustive, there are many more ways in which sex is not just a simple matter of having an X or Y chromosome