Question

In a species with n species, where females are the homogametic sex, how is the gender of offspring determined?

1) By the female
2) By the male
3) By both the male and female
4) By external factors

Answer 1

In species where females are the homogametic sex, the gender of the offspring is determined by the female(option 1) through the ZW system of sex determination.

Step-by-step explanation:

In species where females are the homogametic sex, the gender of the offspring is determined by the female. This is known as a ZW system of sex determination, which is observed in birds and some reptiles. In this system, females have homogametic ZW chromosomes, while males have heterogametic ZZ chromosomes. The presence of the ZW chromosomes in the female determines the development of female characteristics in the offspring.

For example, in birds, if a female with ZW chromosomes mates with a male with ZZ chromosomes, the offspring will have a 50% chance of inheriting the female ZW chromosomes and developing as female, and a 50% chance of inheriting the male ZZ chromosomes and developing as male.

Therefore, the gender of offspring is determined by the female in species with n species, where females are the homogametic sex.