Reproduction system: during the lifetime Flashcards
What is the role of the SRY gene?
It is the Sex-determining Region on the Y chromosome
What is sex determination?
The primitive gonad to develop into either a testis or an ovary
What is sex differentiation?
The phenotype development of genital structures
In mammals vs other classes how is sex determined?
Genetically in mammals, in other species can be determined by temperature (reptiles), social pressures (fish) etc
How many chromosomes do humans have? How many of them are non-sex linked?
46 chromosomes/23 pairs, 22 pairs are autosomal (1 pair of sex chromosomes FYI)
What is the genetic change the differentiates between sexes in mammals?
The presence of a Y chromosome (i.e. XY) creates a male, the absence of a Y chromosome (i.e. XX) creates a female
What does the SRY gene do?
Provides the pathways for the testes to develop
What does the presence of a testis determine?
Determines the sexual fate of the embryo (i.e. no testis/SRY gene = female, testis/presence of SRY gene = males)
What internal genitalia’s are present in only developed males OR females but both are present in the early embryo?
Mullerian duct (female) and the Wolffian duct (male)
What is the gonad considered when it is non-sex differentiated?
Bipotential gondad
What does the Mullerian duct develop into in females? What happens to the Wolffian duct?
The internal female genitals (i.e. uterus, uterine duct and upper vagina)
Wolffian duct regresses
What does the Wolffian duct develop into in males? What happens to the Mullerian duct?
Develops into the internal male genitals
Mullerian duct regresses
How does the development of the female genitals from the Mullerian duct differ from the development of the male genital from the Wolffian duct?
The female genitals will develop spontaneously (i.e. no hormones are needed to drive the development of the female genitals or the regression of the Wolffian duct)
The male genitals require hormones to drive their development (i.e. Testosterone needed to drive Wolffian duct development and Anti-mullerian hormone [AMh] needed to cause Mullerian regression)
Label the diagram. Why are there no arrow in the female genitalia development vs males development?
It happens spontaneously in females (i.e. default mode) but males need the hormones to drive their development
What cells cause the suppression of the Mullerian duct in males? How do they do this?
Sertoli cells produce anti-mullerian hormone (AMh)
What cels cause the development of the Wolffian duct in males? How do they do this?
leydig cells produce testosterone
What does the Wolffian duct develop into in the males?
The epididymis, vas deferens and seminary vesicles