What’s So Complicated About XX and XY?
“I learned that in elementary school”
Hello, friends, and gather round. Today, we’re talking about genes, development, and sex determination. My hope is to prove to you that the more you learn, the more complex this field truly is.
Basic biology is being weaponized against people who are trans, nonbinary, intersex, or many other identities. Heck, basic biology is now being weaponized against anyone who isn’t perfectly stereotypical of their assigned-at-birth sex.
As a tall woman with short hair, I’ve been misgendered enough times myself. So: let’s have an honest conversation about “basic biology.”
No one factor is responsible for variability, but rather, a blend of genetic, hormonal, and experiential factors operating at different times during development result in the phenotype called a human being.
Genetics
We’ll start with the basics in humans.
Basically, think of the X chromosome as necessary for life (at least one copy), and the Y chromosome as necessary, but not sufficient, for maleness. The…
