Biology/Are some people born with both a penis and a vagina?
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Question
Are some people born with both a penis and a vagina?
Dear Kristian,
So far, there has never been a known case of a true human hermaphrodite, i.e., an individual with complete sets of both male and female reproductive organs. However, there are some genetic conditions, known as pseudohermaphrotitism, in which the genitalia are "ambiguous". If you Google 5-alpha reductase deficiency, you will learn about examples of this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-alpha-reductase_deficiency
Dana
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Answers by Expert:
Dana Krempels, Ph.D.
Expertise
I can answer biology-related questions in the areas of evolution, zoology, botany, genetics, and ecology. But I don't answer homework questions or provide ideas for your science fair projects. So students please do your learning the right way by reading your text assignments and studying!
Experience
At the University of Miami, I teach Evolution and Biodiversity, Botany, Zoology, Genetics, Ecology, and a variety of seminars (e.g., the Biology and Evolution of Human Gender Roles).
Education/Credentials
I have a B.S. in Biology and an A.B. in English from the University of Southern California (1980).
I earned my Ph.D. in Biology in the area of evolutionary biology/visual physiology from the University of Miami in 1989.
Past/Present Clients
I am currently an "expert" in both the "Rabbits" and "Wild Animals" categories.
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