Question

in certain salamanders, the sex of a genetic female can be altered, making her into a functional male; these salamanders are called sex reversed males. When a sex reversed male is mated with a normal female, apporximately 2 of the offspring are female and 1 are male. How is sex determined in these salamanders.

Answer 1

Sex determination in certain salamanders is likely influenced by both genetic factors and environmental conditions, potentially involving a ZW sex-determination system or environmental factors leading to sex reversal.

Step-by-step explanation:

In certain salamanders, the sex determination of offspring is influenced by genetic factors, but it can also be altered by environmental conditions. The pattern where mating a sex reversed male with a normal female results in approximately two-thirds of the offspring being female and one-third being male suggests a genetic basis for sex determination that is different from the typical mammalian XY system. Instead, these salamanders might be utilizing a ZW sex-determination system, where ZW individuals are female and ZZ individuals are male, or they might exhibit a form of environmental sex determination where external factors also play a significant role. Furthermore, the occurrence of sex reversal implies the possibility of both genetic and environmental mechanisms influencing the sex of the offspring.