Sex

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This article is about sex in sexually reproducing organisms. For the act, see Sexual intercourse. For
other uses, see Sex (disambiguation).

Part of a series on

Sex

Biological terms

 Sexual dimorphism
 Sexual differentiation 
o Feminization
o Virilization
 Sex-determination system 
o XY
o X0
o ZW
o Z0
o Temperature-dependent
o Haplodiploidy
 Heterogametic sex
 Homogametic sex
 Sex chromosome 
o X chromosome
o Y chromosome
 Testis-determining factor
 Hermaphrodite 
o Sequential hermaphroditism
  Intersex

Sexual reproduction

 Evolution of sexual reproduction 

o Anisogamy
o Isogamy
 Germ cell
 Meiosis
 Gametogenesis 
o Spermatogenesis
o Oogenesis
 Gamete 
o spermatozoon
o ovum
 Fertilization 
o External fertilization
o Internal fertilization
 Sexual selection
 Plant reproduction
 Fungal reproduction
 Sexual reproduction in animals 
o Sexual intercourse
o Copulation
o Human reproduction
o Lordosis behavior
o Pelvic thrust

Sexuality

 Plant sexuality
 Animal sexuality
 Human sexuality 
o Mechanics
o Differentiation
o Activity

 v
 t
  e

Organisms of many species are specialized into male and female varieties, each known as a sex.[1]

[2]
 Sexual reproduction involves the combining and mixing of genetic traits: specialized cells known
as gametes combine to form offspring that inherit traits from each parent. The gametes produced by
an organism define its sex: males produce small gametes (e.g. spermatozoa, or sperm, in animals)
while females produce large gametes (ova, or egg cells). Individual organisms which produce both
male and female gametes are termed hermaphroditic.[2] Gametes can be identical in form and
function (known as isogamy), but, in many cases, an asymmetry has evolved such that two different
types of gametes (heterogametes) exist (known as anisogamy).
Physical differences are often associated with the different sexes of an organism; these sexual
dimorphisms can reflect the different reproductive pressures the sexes experience. For
instance, mate choice and sexual selection can accelerate the evolution of physical differences
between the sexes.
Among humans and other mammals, males typically carry an X and a Y chromosome (XY), whereas
females typically carry two X chromosomes (XX), which are a part of the XY sex-determination
system. Humans may also be intersex. Other animals have various sex-determination systems, such
as the ZW system in birds, the X0 system in insects, and various environmental systems, for
example in reptiles and crustaceans. Fungi may also have more complex allelic mating systems,
with sexes not accurately described as male, female, or hermaphroditic. [3]

Contents

 1Overview
 2Evolution
 3Sexual reproduction
o 3.1Animals
o 3.2Plants
o 3.3Fungi
 4Sex determination
o 4.1Genetic
o 4.2Nongenetic
 5Sexual dimorphism
 6See also
 7References
 8Further reading
 9External links