Caterpillar genders

[Neil Jones]

In article <Pine.OSF.3.96.990110211702.21514B-100000 at aurora.alaska.edu>
           fnkwp at aurora.alaska.edu "Kenelm Philip" writes:

> 
>         The sex of butterflies is normally determined at conception: a cell
> with two X chromosomes is male, one with one X chromosome is female. How-
> ever, during subsequent cell division an X chromosome can sometimes get
> lost--resulting in gynandromorphs: butterflies which are part male and part
> female.
> 
>         In most cases, it's safe to say that an egg, a caterpillar, or a
> pupa is male or female--and will yield an adult of the same sex. (And I
> doubt there is much to be gained by using the PC term 'gender' in this
> context.)
> 
>                                                         Ken Philip
> fnkwp at uaf.edu

Over the use of the word 'gender' I find myself in agreement with Ken.
This is becoming a habit! :-)

It isn't a matter of being Politically Correct. As I see it people seem
afraid of using the word "sex" and use "gender" incorrectly as a 
euphemism. Gender properly refers to a gramatical classification.
In many languages is has nothing to do with the sex of the noun. 

The most spectacular gynandromorphisms are where the insect with one
sex on each side particularly where the two sexes are dramatically different.


-- 
Neil Jones- Neil at nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.nwjones.demon.co.uk/
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn Bog
National Nature Reserve