Question

In nature, certain animal sexes (male or female) are determined by the temperature of their surroundings during a critical time in their development. This thermosensitive period occurs after the egg has been laid. So sex is at the mercy of the ambient temperature of their surroundings. For example, in turtle species eggs from cooler nests all develop into males, whereas higher temperature nests result in females. In terms of what you learned in the unit, explain this phenomenon.

A. This phenomenon is governed by genetic factors.
B. It is influenced by the hormone levels in the mother turtle.
C. The sex determination process in turtles is linked to temperature during development.
D. The sex of turtle eggs is solely determined by the mother's genetics.

Answer 1

The sex determination of certain reptiles, specifically turtles and crocodiles, is influenced by the temperature of their environment during a critical period of egg incubation, a phenomenon known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD).

Step-by-step explanation:

The phenomenon of sex determination being influenced by temperature in certain reptiles, such as turtles and crocodiles, is called environmental sex determination, more specifically, temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). This means that during a critical period of development, notably the middle third of egg incubation, the ambient temperature surrounding the eggs will influence whether the embryos develop as males or females. In many turtle species, for instance, eggs incubated at cooler temperatures generally develop into males, while those kept at warmer temperatures tend to become females.

The correct answer to the question provided is C. The sex determination process in turtles is linked to temperature during development. This is because TSD is independent of genetic factors or hormone levels in the mother turtle and is solely reliant on the incubation temperature of the eggs.