Gender Identity as a Biological Process

Typical Prenatal Differentiation

From the moment of conception many biological factors contribute to the differentia­tion of male or female sex. In the following paragraphs, we explore how biological sex differentiation occurs during prenatal development. Our discussion follows a chrono­logical sequence. We begin at conception, looking at chromosomal differences between male and female, and then continue with the development of gonads, the production of hormones, the development of internal and external reproductive structures, and, finally, sex differentiation of the brain.

I Figure 5.1 Human cells contain 22 pairs of matched autosomes and 1 pair of sex chromo­somes. a normal female has two X chromo­somes, and a normal male has an X and a Y chromosome.

Gender Issues