Question

The sexual characteristics appear at the time of puberty. Explain. Also give the significance of sexual dimorphism in animals.

Answer 1

Puberty:

1. Puberty is the process through which a child's body develops into an adult body capable of sexual reproduction.

The sexual characteristics:

1. The rise in testicular size is the earliest physical symptom of puberty in boys.
2. Breast blossoming is the earliest indication of puberty in girls.
3. Secondary sexual features develop in most children in sync with bone age, however, there are exceptions in 10% of cases.

The significance:

1. Sexual dimorphism is a direct result of natural selection, with the battle for reproductive success driving many male and female creatures along divergent evolutionary routes.
2. This can result in kinds of dimorphism that, on the surface, appear to be detrimental to organisms.