Week 13

Sex can be defined in different ways. 

Sex as a state is the way an organism can be categorize based on their reproductive organs and the gametes that they produce. Males produce mobile smaller gametes (sperm), while females produce large immobile gametes (eggs). In some cases, an organism does not follow this system and can have both reproductive organs and gametes, making them hermaphrodites. 

Sex as an action is used for reproduction purposes. While usually when we think of sexual reproduction we think of two organisms, there are other way for reproduction such as asexual reproduction. It is important to understand from an evolutionary standpoint because sex drives genetic diversity, how an organism can evolve and the role that sexual selection has in driving a species. Studying the different states can help us to have a better understanding of the relationship between different organisms as well. 

Of what I have learned nothing has really contradicted my previous understanding of the topics. The topic that compliments understanding is how there are multiple ways that an organism can reproduce besides just sexual reproduction. I would like to further explore how hermaphrodites have evolved to have both set of gametes.