What are gynandromorphs?

Gynandromorphs are mutations of sexually dimorphic organisms that at the same time show characteristics of men and women. They are also sometimes known as half -siders, because this mutation usually represents half of the body as a woman and the other half as male, divided ventrally down in the middle. It occurs due to errors during embryonic development and is very rare. Such organisms are subject to great interest for research workers. For butterflies, gynandromorfs may be particularly remarkable because men and women of the same kind often look radically different. Mutation arises as a mistake in the first cell division. Instead of passing a complete set of sex chromosomes, the divided cell passes only to a partial set in half, causing it to develop different physical properties. Non -possible, because the failure of chromosome is fully separated during cell division is a sign, it is usually fatal for the cell because it needs this genetic material, but sometimes the result is a gynandromorf.

This mutation was also observed in crabs and lobsters. Already in the 17th century, scientists marked unusual samples that seemed to be half female and half male and speculated about the causes. It was also documented in chickens, where it seems to be the result of double fertilization. Scientists from the fruit fly, the popular object of genetics, have used a number of experimental conditions to learn more about how and why gynandromorphy develops in some organisms.

Examination of genetic material from gynandromorphs shows that the male side and the female side are identical, with the exception of the difference in sex chromosomes. These organisms can have dramatic variations in their color and samples and can also develop external structures such as combs in chickens. Mail samples with this feature are in storage facilities in some museums and collections as the topic of general scientific interest.

Gynandromorfy was not observed in mammals. This feature developsOnly in high -controlled conditions and the development of gynandromorf in nature is it very rare. Some biological texts provide pictures of particularly interesting examples and it is also possible to find pictures in scientific works. One of the consequences of research in the laboratory on gynandromorphic was a deeper understanding of the function of sex chromosomes in the development of brain and reproductive tract in some organisms.