性别决定是一个复杂的发育调控过程, 早期胚胎发育过程中, 雌雄二者必居其一的发育选择是胚胎性腺形成必须的发育决定。文章综述了动物性别决定的遗传系统、性腺发生、性别决定关键基因及其作用机制, 从分子进化的角度分析了性染色体与性别决定形成机制, 提示性别决定基因在进化中总是趋向异配性染色体。

Sex determination is a complex regulatory process of early embryogenesis. Embryo must make a developmental decision to develop as a male or female during gonadogenesis. This paper reviews genetic systems of sex determination, gonadogenesis, key genes involved in sex determination of vertebrates. Molecular evolution processes of sex chromosomes and sex determination provide a clue to tendency of sex-determining genes to appear on heterotypic sex chromosome.