Sex determination in the doctrine of inheritance

Abstract

There is no doubt that one of the most interesting problems of physiology, embryology and especially of present-day genetics is undoubtedly the problem of sex, especially since it can be considered to be completely linked to the process of the doctrine of heredity. Eminent biologists affirm at the present time that sex is inherited. This problem of sex has been discussed since the most ancient times, and already in the sixth century before J. C. the theory of Alkmaion was supported, which read as follows: ''In the child, the sex of the one of its progenitors who contributes the greatest quantity of semen will be realized''. Although this principle represents the only direct transmission of Alkmaion's opinion, and by quoting other theses of the Crotonian physician, it has been possible to reconstruct a fairly complete picture of his theory of sex. According to him, the sex-transmitting qualities of male and female semen depend on the different constitution of the consistency or fluidity of the semen of the two sexes.