Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site proper.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!proper!gsa From: gsa@proper.UUCP (George Acton) Newsgroups: net.religion,net.social,net.philosophy,net.bio Subject: Re: Questions on hermaphroditism Message-ID: <1357@proper.UUCP> Date: Wed, 13-Jun-84 20:23:03 EDT Article-I.D.: proper.1357 Posted: Wed Jun 13 20:23:03 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 22-Jun-84 03:36:22 EDT References: <532@ihuxj.UUCP> <772@bbncca.ARPA>, <2084@mit-eddie.UUCP>, <1547@sdccs6.UUCP> Organization: Proper UNIX, San Leandro, CA Lines: 21 Most texts of general pathology, endocrinology and gynecology have a chapter discussing this subject, and usually a little chart showing the 8-10 different subtypes. Gender can relate to chromosome count, sex of gonads, arrangement of internal genital organs, arrangement of external genital organs and endocrinologic factors like type of sex hormones circulatong and the body's responses to them. Not to mention psychological and social identification. There are several ways for these sexual characteristics to get mixed up. Having functional gonads for both sexes, is impossible, to the best of my recollection. It is possible to have one ovary and one testis, and if this is based on a chromosomal rearrangement after conception, they would contain germ cells, but my impression is that a level of circulating sex hormones that would support reproductive ability for one sex would interfere with function of the opposite-sex gonad to the extent that it would be infertile. --George Acton, MD