Sex and gender: A biological perspective

Abstract

Progress in society is creating an increasingly open environment for people who consider themselves as neither female nor male. However, as part of this development, biological bisexuality is increasingly queried. This view contradicts fundamental biological facts. While we fully endorse social efforts to create a more inclusive environment for genderdiverse people, this does not mean that in return reliable scientific findings have to be denied. Here we highlight the most common misconceptions that lead to the denial of biological sex, which is – all things considered – a basis for the diversity of life. Humans with their unique combination of biological sex and gender are different from non-human animals and plants in this respect. Denying the concept of biological sex ultimately undermines scientific evidence and is on par with the claim that the sun revolves around the earth.