Can an intersexed person impregnate themself?

Question

Is it possible for them to produce both sperm and eggs cells? And also, their DNA must be either male or female, so would this prevent such an occurrence, or could dna of the same s*x combine to produce an offspring?

Answer 1

Go ask Micheal Jackson,I'm sure he knows.

Answer 2

Interesting question.

Answer 3

I doubt that an intersexed person would be fertile.

Answer 4

dnt dey need 22 s*x chromosomes r sumtin. like 11 off each parent so it'd probly b born wit deformities

Answer 5

Uhhhh...eww?

Answer 6

Intersexed people cannot impregnate themselves, no.  Most of the time, one or both sets of reproductive organs is nonfunctional.  Basically, humans aren't "programmed" to be intersexed in the same way that hermaphroditic organisms are, and having two different sets of reproductive structures is a random event.

If both sets of reproductive organs are actually well-developed, self-impregnation still would not be possible for a number of reasons, a couple of which you already touched upon.  Hormones and chromosomes play a major part in s*x cell development, and either one or both types of s*x cells would not be viable, or the chromosomal makeup of the individual (s*x chromosomes, imprinted genes) would not allow for successful fertilization and development.

Even organisms that ARE programmed to be hermaphroditic, such as earthworms and snails, almost never impregnate themselves.  The purpose of having two sets of reproductive structures in these creatures is to maximize reproductive success during sexual encounters.  When you can't move very fast, as with worms and snails, you could very well be dead before finding a mate of the opposite s*x.  Having both male and female reproductive parts allows you to mate with the first suitable partner you meet.

Answer 7

You sort of answered yourself.

Although the exterior appearance might be intermediate or even opposite, the genetic s*x is an on/off thing (either you have SRY, or you don't).

Gametogenesis depends on hormone levels; hermaphrodites usually have hormone imbalances (that's the reason for their phenotype) that effectively makes them sterile.

Dna of the same s*x cannot produce an offspring in mammals; experiments in mice created only theratomes(sp?). Zygotes from two male nuclei gave small embryos with huge placentas; zygotes from two female nuclei gave more or less normal embryos but with small placentas insufficient for their survival in utero. The reason for this behaviour lies in the different epigenetic inactivation of parental genes through methylation.

Answer 8

By intersexed, do you mean hermaphrodites?

It is possible, but highly improbable. Humans that are hermaphrodites are probably really rare, but since these hermaphrodites have both male and female reproductive systems, they could. But, as observed in other hermaphroditic organisms, like earthworms, it's more preferred to copulate with another one of their kind, instead of impregnating themselves. [Sorry if this is confusing/repetitive. ]