What determines whether an organism is male or female based on the sex chromosomes?

The determination of whether an organism is male or female based on sex chromosomes is primarily described by sex determination. In many organisms, including humans, sex is typically determined by specific sex chromosomes—such as the X and Y chromosomes in mammals.

For example, in humans, individuals with two X chromosomes (XX) are typically female, while individuals with one X and one Y chromosome (XY) are typically male. This chromosomal difference leads to the development of distinct sexual characteristics through a combination of genetic and hormonal mechanisms.

Autosomal inheritance refers to the inheritance patterns of genes located on non-sex chromosomes (autosomes) and does not dictate sex determination directly. Sex-linked inheritance concerns traits associated with genes found on the sex chromosomes but doesn’t specifically define the process of determining sex itself. A dihybrid cross deals with the inheritance of two different traits simultaneously and is not applicable to the concept of sex determination as it pertains to the sex chromosomes.

Thus, the process of sex determination is essential in understanding how the genetic makeup related to sex chromosomes defines biological sex.