Sexuality
From ArticleWorld
Sexuality is a part of nearly every living organism but is expressed quite differently, depending on the species involved. Sexuality involves the genetic predisposition and anatomy that makes one male or female. It can also relate to hermaphroditic species of plants and animals, which have male and female gonadal parts existing in a single member of the species.
Sexuality, in general, carries the purpose of species procreation—a purpose common to all living organisms. In animals, sexuality also refers to having the ability to procreate through some sort of sexual act, usually copulation. In humans, sexuality carries all of the above aspects but also is a social and societal term, referring to gender norms, gender preference and the social aspect of being of one gender or another.
Contents |
Plant Sexuality
While it is difficult to think of plants as having sexuality, they do, in fact, rely on the presence of reproductive organs to create more of the species. Some plants are hermaphroditic while other species have clearly “male plants” and “female plants”.
Hermaphroditic Animals
Simple animals, such as flatworms, participate in self-fertilization as they carry gonadal features of both male and female within a single organism. Other hermaphroditic animals, like leeches and earthworms, do not make the same type of gamete (sex cell) at the same time and so must fertilize another member of the species.
Higher Animals
Higher animals carry different genetic information depending on the gender of the specific animal. Males and females develop differently. Generally, the female produces the ova (or eggs) and the male produces sperm cells. Through the act of copulation, or the bringing together of the genitals or a male and a female, the ova are inseminated and fertilized eggs are created. Each of these cells, called zygotes, develops into a multi-celled offspring of the male and female. The number of offspring created varies widely among the animal species.
Human Sexuality
In humans, both male and female offspring exist and, at the time of birth, a child takes on social and parental expectations based on their sex. When a human child grows and reaches puberty, they are considered sexually mature. They develop secondary sexual characteristics and can engage in sexual acts. The drive toward mating and procreating the species, just like other animals, develops. One part of human sexuality (and in some animals) is the aspect of gender preference.
For reasons as yet unclear, members of one gender can develop an attraction for the same gender. In that case, sexuality and the sexual act become a matter of preference and sexual gratification in the absence of procreation.