Navigating the semantic labyrinth of "sex" in the study of reproductive trait evolution.

DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
42329779
Abstract
"Sex" is a compound of many different concepts that contribute to a multiplicity of meanings. As a result, "sex" appears in a wide range of scientific research for different purposes, from describing a process of recombination and cell division to systems of categorising individuals. Identifying the meaning of "sex" in any particular context requires understanding the construction of contributing component concepts and their relationship with one another. We offer the metaphor of a labyrinth to describe the process of interpreting the meaning "sex" and uncovering its context-dependent purpose. In this way, the meanings of "sex" related to "sexual reproduction", "sex types", "sex determination", and/or "sexual systems" can be elucidated by identifying how these concepts relate to suppositions about what properties of "recombination, "meiosis", "syngamy", or "gametes" are present and to which aspects of a trait, individual, or lineage they apply. By denoting "sex" and related terminology within quotation marks, we emphasise the contextualism of language in the theory and practise of research and resultant knowledge about the natural world. The structure of a labyrinth reflects the incredible capacity of "sex" to describe the diversity and disparity of eukaryotic reproductive systems. The analytical framework of the labyrinth highlights that many branching paths lead to distinct destinations and different conceptual versions can arise in the consideration of reproductive trait evolution based on the inclusions and possible connections among concepts. Through a critical evaluation of the concepts that contribute to the labyrinth of "sex" across biology, we gain a more nuanced appreciation for the operation of "sex" within scientific knowledge.
Date Issued
2026-01-12
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
McDonough-Goldstein, Caitlin E
Young, Soleil E
Neiman, Maurine
Paez, Sadye
Valenzuela, Nicole
Sotero-Caio, Cibele G
Palacios-Gimenez, Octavio Manuel
Abbott, Jessica K
Benvenuto, Chiara
Huylmans, Ann Kathrin
Calhim, Sara
Baeza, J Antonio
Mongue, Andrew J
Larson, Erica L
Andjel, Lucija
Melzer, Rainer
Dietz, Elizabeth
Ruiz-Herrera, Aurora
Additional Credits
Journal
Integrative & Comparative Biology
Publisher
Oxford University Press
ISSN
1557-7023
1540-7063
Access(Rights)
open.access
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