Key Takeaways:
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The presence of a Y chromosome does not make someone male, because it is not the Y chromosome but the genes it often (but not always) contains that influence male sexual development.
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When the genes encoding male sexual development cross-over to an X chromosome, you get XX (“chromosomally female”) individuals who proceed along male developmental pathways.
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When the genes encoding male sexual development mutate or are deleted, you get XY (“chromosomally male”) individuals who proceeds along female developmental pathways.
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All of the sex chromosome sets (including XX and XY) can mix-and-match with other sexual characteristics—such as genitals, gonads, and secondary sexual characteristics—to create a mosaic of sexual traits.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) determined in 1999 that the Y chromosome was “inconclusive” at sex determination.
[Read more…] about Does the Y Chromosome Create a Sex Binary? Science Says No.