ABSTRACT
This chapter began with a history of the nurture versus nature theory from the 1970s that involved the sex reassignment of a baby and the consequences of this drastic procedure. Then we described the simplest elements of the reproductive process—the ovum and the sperm. We took you through the concepts of fertilization and conception, the development of the fetus, and the birth of the offspring. The risks and consequences at each stage of the reproductive process should serve to alert young as well as older people to the importance of prenatal education to assure the development of normal and healthy babies.
We have also described biological changes across the life span from the onset of puberty through the onset of the menstrual cycle to the end of the 146reproductive life of the female. We also included changes in men around their climacteric and concluded the chapter with problems of sexuality and ageism in both females and males.
In presenting the details of these processes, it should be evident that a vast amount of scientific and technological advances has become available and, as a result, has given us increased knowledge about the biology of sex and gender. Finally, an understanding of these ontological (developmental) processes early in this volume should assist the reader in relating to the chapters that follow.
