Gynandromorphism
A gynandromorph is an organism that contains both male and female characteristics. The term gynandromorph, from Greek "gyne" female and "andro" male, is mainly used in the field of Lepidopterology (butterfly/moth study) or entomology (all insects). These characteristics can be seen in butterflies, where both male and female characteristics can be seen physically because of sexual dimorphism. Cases of gynandromorphism have also been reported in crustaceans, especially lobsters, sometimes crabs and even in birds.[1][2][3] A clear example in birds is the gynandromorphic Zebra Finch. These birds have lateralised brain structures in the face of a common steroid signal, providing strong evidence for a non-hormonal primary sex mechanism regulating brain differentiation.[4]
A gynandromorph can have bilateral asymmetry, one side female and one side male, or they can be mosaic, a case in which the two sexes aren't defined as clearly. Bilateral gynandromorphy arises very early in development, typically when the organism has between 8 and 64 cells.[5] Later the gynandromorph is mosaic.
In his autobiography, Speak, Memory, the writer and lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov describes a beautiful gynandromorph butterfly, male on one side, female on the other, that he caught as a youth on his family's Russian estate.
Chickens can also be gynandromorphous.[1]
See also
References
- ^ Unique Bird Sheds Light on Sex Differences in the Brain In ScientificAmerican.com
- ^ Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae Gynandromorph
- ^ Powderhill Banding Fall 2004
- ^ Arnold, A. P. Sex chromosomes and brain gender. Nature Rev. Neurosci. 5, 701-708 (2004)
- ^ Rare crab may hold genetic secrets at Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Consulted March 30, 2007
External links
- http://www.daltonstate.edu/galeps/Gynandromorphs.htm
- http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/0616_050616_gender_crab.html
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