132 SEX INEHRITANCE 
genes carried in them, we may say:—both sexes 
are due to the simultaneous action of two sets of 
genes, one set, located predominantly in the X- 
chromosome, tending to produce the characters 
called female, the other set, located predominantly 
in the autosomes, tending to produce the characters 
called male. These two sets of genes are not equally 
effective, for the female-tendency genes outweigh 
the male-tendency genes, and the diploid (or 
triploid) form is a female. When the relative 
number of the female-tendency genes is lowered by 
the absence of one X, the male tendency genes 
outweigh the female, and the result is the normal 
haplo-X male. When the two sets of genes are 
acting in a ratio between these two extremes, as is 
the case in the ratios of 2X : 3 sets of autosomes, the 
result is a sex intermediate—the intersex. 
Individuals that have 3X: 2 sets of autosomes 
(superfemales) and 1X : 3 sets of autosomes (super- 
males) are likewise produced by triploid (8n) 
females. They have been identified by genetic and 
cytological tests. They form distinct types that are 
easily distinguishable from normal females or males, 
and they are sterile. 
SEX AND SEX-DETERMINING GAMETES 
The word sex is usually applied to many-celled 
individuals, the male sex producing sperm and the 
female sex producing eggs. In most races the male 
and the female sex have the diploid (double) number 
