[Campbell Biology P.1064] According to Figure 45.21 and the accompanying text, what would mos... | Practice Question

According to Figure 45.21 and the accompanying text, what would most likely occur in an XY male embryo if anti-Müllerian hormone AMH was absent?

  • A: Both male (Wolffian) and female (Müllerian) internal reproductive structures would form.
  • B: Only female internal reproductive structures would form, as testosterone production would also be inhibited.
  • C: Only male internal reproductive structures would form, as AMH is not essential for male development.
  • D: The embryo would develop as an intersex individual with ambiguous external genitalia.

Explanation

In XY embryos, testosterone directs the formation of male ducts, while AMH causes the female ducts to degenerate. If AMH is absent, the female Müllerian ducts would not degenerate and would persist alongside the male Wolffian ducts that form due to the presence of testosterone.