The octopus just revealed another one of its secrets: what determines its sex. University of Oregon researchers have identified a sex chromosome in the California two-spot octopus. This chromosome has ...

A nearly gapless genome sequence of the echidna, an egg-laying mammal with multiple sex chromosomes, helps researchers to track genomic reorganization events that gave rise to a highly unusual sex ...

Since ancient times, scientists and philosophers have pondered the fundamental question of what makes some organisms male and some female. Some hypotheses were at least plausible—Greek philosopher ...

Here’s a quick reality check: ice cream sales go up in summer, and so do drownings. But no one thinks Ben & Jerry's is a silent killer. It’s correlation, not causation. Yet this same logical ...

A 3D graphic showing an artist's interpretation of human X and Y chromosomes. On the left are blue bundles of genetic material making an X shape and on the right blue bundles of genetic material ...

It’s not just about chromosomes. Or reproductive cells. Or any other binary metric. Many genetic, environmental and developmental variations can produce what are thought of as masculine and feminine ...

For some parents, it’s one of the most exciting parts of being pregnant: finding out your baby’s sex. But what, exactly, decides a baby’s sex, and how does it all develop? Here’s your primer to what’s ...

Hermit crabs have the most chromosomes of any animal, with 254. Chromosomes carry genetic information in the form of DNA. Genes located on autosomes determine the inheritance of physical traits. Sex ...