Sex Determination (AQA GCSE Biology)

Revision Note

Lára Marie McIvor

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Biology Lead

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Human Chromosomes

  • Ordinary human body cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes

  • 22 pairs control characteristics only, but one of the pairs carries the genes that determine sex

  • In females, the sex chromosomes are the same (XX)

  • In males, the sex chromosomes are different (XY)

 

Sex chromosomes, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Sperm cells determine the sex of offspring

Determining Sex

  • The inheritance of sex can be shown using a genetic diagram (known as a Punnett square), with the X and Y chromosomes taking the place of the alleles usually written in the boxes

 

Inheritance of sex, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Punnett square showing the inheritance of sex


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Lára Marie McIvor

Author: Lára Marie McIvor

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.