Distinguish between the concepts of sex determination and sexual differentiation.

Sex determination is the process by which an organism's sex is genetically established. In many species, sex determination is based on specific chromosomes or genes that control the development of sexual traits. In humans and other mammals, sex determination occurs through the presence of specific sex chromosomes - XX for females and XY for males. The presence of the Y chromosome results in the development of male characteristics, while the absence of the Y chromosome leads to the development of female characteristics. Other species may have different mechanisms for sex determination, such as temperature-dependent sex determination in certain reptiles.

Sexual differentiation refers to the physical and physiological development of an organism's sexual characteristics as it grows and matures. This process is influenced by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. In humans, sexual differentiation begins during embryonic development and continues throughout childhood and adolescence. Key events include the formation of gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females), the development of secondary sexual characteristics (such as facial hair in males and breasts in females), and the onset of reproductive functioning (such as menstruation in females and sperm production in males).

The main differences between sex determination and sexual differentiation can be summarized as follows: 1. Sex determination refers to the genetic establishment of an organism's sex, while sexual differentiation refers to the development of sexual characteristics in an organism. 2. Sex determination is a relatively fixed process determined by specific chromosomes or genes, while sexual differentiation is influenced by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. 3. Sex determination occurs early in an organism's development, while sexual differentiation takes place throughout the organism's growth and maturation process. In conclusion, recognizing the distinctions between sex determination and sexual differentiation is crucial for understanding the complexities of sexual development in various species, as well as the potential impact of genetic and environmental factors on these processes.