February 2013 Archives

Gynandromorphy is a condition caused by an unequal distribution of sex determining chromosomes in early mitotic division. this can lead to a scenario where some of the cells in an organism are male and some are female. if this condition occurs early enough in embryonic development it is possible for an organism to be divided bilaterally into male and female halves. this condition is most often observed in insects but has also been seen in birds and crustaceans.

Gynandromorphic cardinal. image source http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/a-gynandromorph-cardinal-one-half-male-the-other-half-female/

During prenatal development, brain abnormalities or exposure to certain chemicals can result in an embryo developing a single, centralized eye. The brain is usually significantly reduced in size and the nose is usually absent or replaced with a non-functioning proboscis. This is a lethal mutation with most sufferers surviving for only minutes after birth, often due to difficulties breathing due to a lack of nostrils.

Source: Garzozi, H. J., Barkay, S. 1985. Cause of True Cyclopia. British J. of Ophthalmology. 69: 307-311