Maiden Mother Matriarch with Louise Perry The Truth About Biological Sex - Alex Mills | Maiden Mother Matriarch Episode 142
May 25, 2025
Alex Mills, a Professor of Biology at York University, delves into the fascinating world of biological sex. He clarifies what 'male' and 'female' truly mean across species and discusses the complexities of intersex variations. The conversation explores why mammals often lack attentive parenting and presents a surprising theory about dinosaur extinction. Additionally, they examine mating behaviors and coercion in nature, drawing parallels to human relationships and societal structures.
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Biological Sex Defined by Gametes
- Male and female categories in biology are defined by the size of gametes, not behaviors or roles.
- Males produce small mobile sperm, females produce large immobile eggs, a near universal in multicellular organisms.
Intersex: Variation, Not Third Sex
- Intersex conditions represent unusual combinations of male and female traits, not a third sex.
- Intersex individuals often have ambiguous genitalia and are usually infertile due to developmental or genetic causes.
Sex Roles Can Reverse but Binary Stands
- Some species show reversed sex roles, like seahorses where males nurture fertilized eggs in a pouch.
- Male and female reproductive roles remain distinct even when parental investment roles reverse.
