Our Human Odyssey

<p>Our Human Odyssey: Becoming Female and Male focuses on</p><p>critical aspects in the development and biology of our reproductive</p><p>system. A wealth of information not readily available to the</p><p>general reader is complemented with a rich assortment of</p><p>historical perspectives and commentaries. It begins with the</p><p>amazingly complex seemingly miraculous processed that lead to</p><p>the formation of eggs and sperm follows the fetal development</p><p>of the genital tissues the post-pubertal reproductive functions</p><p>of females and males the pubertal transition and finally our</p><p>reproductive twilight. The next section focuses on fertilization</p><p>and implantation birth and lactation and exciting new studies</p><p>relating the origins of chronic adult diseases to our pre-birth</p><p>environment in the womb. The third section covers pregnancy</p><p>loss and birth defects while the final section reviews birth</p><p>control methods the causes of infertility and the new growth</p><p>industry - assisted reproduction. In addition three appendices</p><p>supplement the main text and provide more detailed information</p><p>about sex chromosomes mutations hormonal integrations of the</p><p>reproductive system and disorders of sexual development.</p>