Question

How could you tell the sex of a seven-week-old embryo? Look at the chromosomes:

a) X and Y chromosomes
b) Presence of a specific hormone
c) Ultrasonography
d) None of the above

Answer 1

The sex of a seven-week-old embryo can be determined by looking at the chromosomes. The presence or absence of the Y chromosome determines the development of male or female characteristics. Nondisjunction during meiosis can lead to chromosomal intersex.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the sex of a seven-week-old embryo, one can look at the chromosomes. In mammals, sex determination is generally determined by the presence or absence of the Y chromosome. Homozygous individuals for X (XX) are female, while heterozygous individuals (XY) are male. The presence of a Y chromosome triggers the development of male characteristics, while its absence results in female characteristics. Nondisjunction during meiosis can produce other chromosomal combinations, known as chromosomal intersex.