Do all babies begin as female?
All babies start with the same basic reproductive structures, but those structures can develop into either male or female characteristics.
Here's a simplified explanation:
* Everyone starts with the potential for both male and female characteristics. These are called undifferentiated gonads.
* A Y chromosome is what determines if a baby will develop male characteristics. If a baby inherits a Y chromosome from their father, the SRY gene on that chromosome triggers the development of testes.
* Without a Y chromosome, the baby will develop ovaries. This is because, in the absence of the SRY gene, the undifferentiated gonads develop into ovaries by default.
So, it's not accurate to say that all babies begin as female. It's more accurate to say that all babies start with the potential to develop either male or female characteristics, and the presence or absence of a Y chromosome determines the path of development.
-
If your baby is ready to sit up in a high chair, she’s also ready to drink from her first sippy cup — or at least, ready to learn how to drink from either an open cup or a sippy cup.Not only will this teach her that liquid can come from a
-
When a baby learns to crawl, shes demonstrating progress in physical development. As shes progressing physically shes also developing cognitively. Cognitive development involves the building of thought processes such as decision making, problem solvi
-
Conception and childbearing are complex processes that involve the coordinated functioning of several organ systems. Here are the key organ systems involved:Female Reproductive System:* Ovaries: Produce and release eggs (ova) and hormones like estrog
