228 Basis of Sex Determination 



The inhibition of the growth of the penis by the ovary 

 is of importance ; it supports the idea already expressed 

 that in hermaphrodites this inhibition of the growth 

 of the secondary organs of the other sex is only feeble 

 or does not exist at all. 



We may finally ask w^hether there is any connection 

 betw^een the cytological basis of sex determination by 

 special sex chromosomes and the physiological basis 

 of sex determination by specific substances or internal 

 secretions. It is possible that the sex chromosomes 

 determine or favour, in a way as yet unknown, the 

 formation of the specific internal secretion discussed 

 in the second part of this chapter. In this way all the 

 facts of sex determination might be harmonized, and it 

 may become clear that when it is possible to modify 

 secretions by outside conditions or to feed the body 

 with certain as yet unknown specific substances the 

 influence of the sex chromosomes upon the determi- 

 nation of sex may be overcome. 



