Four talks focus on sex determination—the molecular and genetic mechanisms that determine whether an organism will be male, female … or a hermaphrodite. Barbara J. Meyer, Ph.D., and David C. Page, M.D., explore topics such as the evolution of the sex chromosomes, the genetic cues that affect sex determination, the advantages of studying sex in a worm, human infertility, and ethics.

Dr. Meyer is an HHMI investigator and professor of genetics and development at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Page is an HHMI investigator, a member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

View the on-demand webcast of the lecture series.

Lecture Summaries and Key Concepts (PDF)

Discussion Points and Challenge Questions (PDF)

Y Chromosome Animation

With the complete sequencing of the Y chromosome, surprising details about its structure have become apparent. It turns out the Y chromosome is like a hall of mirrors, containing many palindromes. Watch animation...

Who's Who in Sex-Determination Research

Learn about other research into sex determination being conducted by HHMI-funded scientists. Read on...

Gender Testing of Female Athletes

Verifying a person's gender may be harder than you think. Find out why...

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The Future Biology of Sex: Science Fiction Perspectives

What if we had only one sex—or more than two? Explore the world of science fiction with a noted writer and biology professor. Read on...

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