In humans, sex is determined by the presence or absence of X or Y sex chromosomes. In honeybees, however, evolution has resulted in a very different and unique sex determination system.

Since ancient times, scientists and philosophers have pondered the fundamental question of what makes some organisms male and some female. Some hypotheses were at least plausible—Greek philosopher ...

During cell division in most organisms, DNA is packaged into multiple chromosomes — each of which has its own purpose — before being transmitted to the offspring cells. Of these chromosomes, one ...

Yin and Yang, Venus and Mars, the Moon and the Sun, however you want to describe it, becoming a female or a male can make a big difference in your life, and not just for human beings. Researchers have ...

Scientists have known that sex-determination in vertebrates happens in the germ cells, a body's reproductive cells, and the somatic cells, the cells that are not reproductive cells. Yet they have not ...

The mechanisms underlying sex determination in nematodes, commonly known as roundworms, have not been fully understood. Now, an international team of researchers has conducted a study to determine the ...

In reptiles, a simple temperature change can determine whether an egg develops into a male or female. This process is ...