Final answer:
Human males are heterogametic and produce two different kinds of gametes with either X or Y chromosomes, while females are homogametic, producing gametes with only X chromosomes. The correct answer is option 1) heterogametic, homogametic. This concept is vital for understanding sex determination and sex-linked traits in mammals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Human males, with XY chromosomes are heterogametic, and produce two different kinds of gametes (sperm carrying an X chromosome and sperm carrying a Y chromosome), while females with XX chromosomes are homogametic, and produce only one kind of gamete (eggs carrying an X chromosome). Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is option 1) heterogametic, homogametic.
In sexual reproduction, this difference in gamete production between the sexes results in males having the ability to influence the sex of the offspring, as the Y chromosome from the father's sperm determines male characteristics, triggering the development of male sexual organs and secondary sexual characteristics. Females, however, always contribute an X chromosome to the offspring. Rare instances, such as nondisjunction during meiosis, can produce other combinations of sex chromosomes such as XXY, XYY, and XO, leading to different chromosomal intersex conditions. The presence of sex chromosomes is critical for sex-linked traits and for the determination of sex in mammals, such as humans. Conversely, birds use a different system, where the sex is determined by ZW (heterogametic) in females and ZZ (homozygous) in males. Understanding this concept is not only fundamental for high school biology students but also essential for topics related to medicine, genetics, and developmental biology.