Final answer:
Males are the heterogametic sex producing X or Y chromosome-bearing sperm, whereas females are the homogametic sex with all eggs carrying an X chromosome. The presence of a Y chromosome with the SRY gene determines male development; absence of it leads to female characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
In humans, the male is known as the heterogametic sex because they produce two types of sperm, one containing an X chromosome and another containing a Y chromosome. The female is referred to as the homogametic sex, as all of their eggs carry a single X chromosome.
Male gametes determine the sex of the offspring; if a sperm with an X chromosome fertilizes an egg, the result is a female (XX), whereas if a sperm with a Y chromosome does so, the result is a male (XY). The Y chromosome carries the SRY gene, which is responsible for initiating the development of male traits. Without it, the default development is toward female characteristics.
In humans, the male is known as the male sex, because one type of sperm carries only the X chromosome, and another type carries the Y chromosome. The female, on the other hand, is the female sex, because all eggs carry a single X chromosome.