Sex and Gender

Author(s):  
Turk Rhen ◽  
David Crews

In this chapter, sex will refer to the central process of meiosis and syngamy in eukaryotic organisms. Although some form of sexuality characterizes the life cycle of many eukaryotic organisms (i.e., virtually all fungi, plants, and animals), not all eukaryotes are sexual (e.g., many protists) (Margulis 1970, 1996; Bell 1982). Certain asexual protists, for example, only undergo mitosis and never alternate between haploid and diploid stages by way of meiosis and syngamy. Consequently, one of the most fundamental questions in biology is: Why do certain organisms go through meiosis and syngamy while others do not? Despite the apparent simplicity of this query, evolutionary biologists have not provided an entirely satisfactory explanation for the evolution of sex. Much of the difficulty arises because there appears to be no single answer. Moreover, sex is often confused with other associated phenomenon. For instance, one completely subordinate, but intimately related, occurrence is the evolution of gender in organisms that go through meiosis and syngamy. In his essay on the evolution of sex, Ghiselin (1988) aptly wrote, “Gender means the differentiation into males, females, and such alternatives as hermaphrodites. It also includes the differences between sperm and eggs. Such differences are important because they create the circumstances that make sex a puzzle” (p. 9). Yet he dismisses this subject in the next sentence: “Otherwise we are not much concerned about gender either.” Here we clarify the relationship between the evolution of sex and the evolution of gender. This is a critical concept to comprehend because gender differences are nearly universal in sexual organisms. We also discuss some of the major hypotheses proposed to explain why sex exists and recent empirical work that sheds light on the factors that may favor meiosis and syngamy, regardless of gender differences. In the remainder of the chapter, we present a more thorough analysis of the evolution of gender, including a discussion of what the fundamental gender difference is and why there are so many different mechanisms that produce more derived gender differences.

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 1329-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su-Lin Chiu ◽  
Fu-Yuan Hong ◽  
Shao-I Chiu

We analyzed undergraduates' (N = 232) day-to-day lying behavior in order to explore the frequency of occurrence, kinds of lying behavior, and gender differences, and to analyze the relationship between lying behaviors and individual undergraduates' psychological characteristics. We developed a questionnaire and analyzed the results using descriptive statistics, t tests, and Pearson product-moment correlation analysis. Results showed that the undergraduates' day-to-day behavior could be divided into the following 5 types of lying: excuse, absenteeism, cheating, negative, and spending. More than 80% of the undergraduates said they had told a lie in a day-to-day situation within the 1-year period covered in this study. There was no significant gender difference in any aspect of the undergraduates' day-to-day lying behavior, although there was a significant correlation between day-to-day lying behavior and negative psychological characteristics.


2012 ◽  
Vol 220 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Hausmann ◽  
Barbara Schober

Author(s):  
B. Moretti ◽  
A. Spinarelli ◽  
G. Varrassi ◽  
L. Massari ◽  
A. Gigante ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The exact nature of sex and gender differences in knee osteoarthritis (OA) among patient candidates for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains unclear and requires better elucidation to guide clinical practice. The purpose of this investigation was to survey physician practices and perceptions about the influence of sex and gender on knee OA presentation, care, and outcomes after TKA. Methods The survey questions were elaborated by a multidisciplinary scientific board composed of 1 pain specialist, 4 orthopedic specialists, 2 physiatrists, and 1 expert in gender medicine. The survey included 5 demographic questions and 20 topic questions. Eligible physician respondents were those who treat patients during all phases of care (pain specialists, orthopedic specialists, and physiatrists). All survey responses were anonymized and handled via remote dispersed geographic participation. Results Fifty-six physicians (71% male) accepted the invitation to complete the survey. In general, healthcare professionals expressed that women presented worse symptomology, higher pain intensity, and lower pain tolerance and necessitated a different pharmacological approach compared to men. Pain and orthopedic specialists were more likely to indicate sex and gender differences in knee OA than physiatrists. Physicians expressed that the absence of sex and gender-specific instruments and indications is an important limitation on available studies. Conclusions Healthcare professionals perceive multiple sex and gender-related differences in patients with knee OA, especially in the pre- and perioperative phases of TKA. Sex and gender bias sensitivity training for physicians can potentially improve the objectivity of care for knee OA among TKA candidates.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 247028972098001
Author(s):  
Rebecca Leeds ◽  
Ari Shechter ◽  
Carmela Alcantara ◽  
Brooke Aggarwal ◽  
John Usseglio ◽  
...  

Sex differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality have been attributed to differences in pathophysiology between men and women and to disparities in CVD management that disproportionately affect women compared to men. Similarly, there has been investigation of differences in the prevalence and presentation of insomnia attributable to sex. Few studies have examined how sex and insomnia interact to influence CVD outcomes, however. In this review, we summarize the literature on sex-specific differences in the prevalence and presentation of insomnia as well as existing research regarding the relationship between insomnia and CVD outcomes as it pertains to sex. Research to date indicate that women are more likely to have insomnia than men, and there appear to be differential associations in the relation between insomnia and CVD by sex. We posit potential mechanisms of the relationship between sex, insomnia and CVD, discuss gaps in the existing literature, and provide commentary on future research needed in this area. Unraveling the complex relations between sex, insomnia, and CVD may help to explain sex-specific differences in CVD, and identify sex-specific strategies for promotion of cardiovascular health. Throughout this review, terms “men” and “women” are used as they are in the source literature, which does not differentiate between sex and gender. The implications of this are also discussed.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Richardson ◽  
Lorraine Greaves ◽  
Natasha Jategaonkar ◽  
Kirsten Bell ◽  
Ann Pederson ◽  
...  

AbstractThis article assesses whether the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), adequately reflects sex, gender and diversity related differences in nicotine dependence. Available studies on the FTND were reviewed and a sex, gender and diversity analysis (SGBA) of this instrument was conducted. Results indicate that sex and gender differences in nicotine dependence may undermine the ability of the FTND to present an adequate picture of dependence. Conducting a SGBA on this Fagerstrom test reveals that sex and gender differences likely limit the ability of this instrument to present an accurate picture of dependence in diverse groups. Further research is needed to enhance the sensitivity of the FTND.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5808
Author(s):  
Annalisa Giandalia ◽  
Alfio Edoardo Giuffrida ◽  
Guido Gembillo ◽  
Domenico Cucinotta ◽  
Giovanni Squadrito ◽  
...  

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most serious complications of both type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Current guidelines recommend a personalized approach in order to reduce the burden of DM and its complications. Recognizing sex and gender- differences in medicine is considered one of the first steps toward personalized medicine, but the gender issue in DM has been scarcely explored so far. Gender differences have been reported in the incidence and the prevalence of DKD, in its phenotypes and clinical manifestations, as well as in several risk factors, with a different impact in the two genders. Hormonal factors, especially estrogen loss, play a significant role in explaining these differences. Additionally, the impact of sex chromosomes as well as the influence of gene–sex interactions with several susceptibility genes for DKD have been investigated. In spite of the increasing evidence that sex and gender should be included in the evaluation of DKD, several open issues remain uncovered, including the potentially different effects of newly recommended drugs, such as SGLT2i and GLP1Ras. This narrative review explored current evidence on sex/gender differences in DKD, taking into account hormonal, genetic and clinical factors.


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