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Sex determination: More complicated than you thought - Aaron Reedy

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From something as small and complex as a chromosome to something as seemingly simple as the weather, sex determination systems vary significantly across the animal kingdom. Biologist and teacher Aaron Reedy shows us the amazing differences between species when it comes to determination of gender.

One of the advantages of asexual reproduction, like we see in the whiptail lizards, is that no energy is expended to find a mate. However, some animals like rotifers (microscopic aquatic animals) use asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction depending on which form of reproduction the environmental conditions favor at the moment. Which environmental conditions do you think would favor asexual reproduction? Which environmental conditions do you think would favor sexual reproduction?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Aaron Reedy
  • Animator Buzzco Associates, Inc.
  • Narrator Aaron Reedy

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