Mr. Obvious wrote:
Otto wrote:Its not that hard.
If you have the anatomical machinery to produce sperm, you are a male.
If you have the anatomical machinery to produce eggs, you are a female.
some people have both. What do you do with them?
Males always have a Y chromosome
Females never have a Y chromosome.
Some people have more than two chromosomes, what do you do with them?
For humans, sex determination is based on the sex chromosomes (X and Y) If ever a Y chromosome is present (regardless of any abnormalities such as extra sex chromosomes) the individual is a male. In the case of extra sex chromosomes, like in kleinfelters (XXY) the individual is still a genetic and phenotypic male. There are instances like de la Chappell syndrome (XX male) were no Y chromosome is present and the individual is phenotypically a male but not genetically (but even then its the result unequal crossover during myosis with a Y chromosome). There is also Swyers (XY female but to avoid a long reply I wont address this unless needed). What it comes down to is how at what level do we determine sex in athletics? Is it by reproductive systems? Those who produce sperm produce greater amounts of testosterone (a clear advantage over those who dont). Those who produce eggs produce estrogen and progesterone which for the most part do not give any advantage in competition.
It is a clear cut with genetics by the presence of Y or absence of Y chromosomes. In cases of XX males or XY females, the fact that these conditions are so rare, and that they are such a hindrance to athletic proformance that they would mostlikely never compete at an elite level, that this would be of little concern. Therefore, going by sex chromosomes it would be an easy yes or no answer.