Final answer:
The SRY gene stands for Sex-determining Region Y and is located on the Y chromosome within the nucleus. It initiates male sex development during embryonic growth. Without the SRY gene, an embryo will develop female characteristics, making female the 'default sex'. option (A)
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question 'What is the SRY? What does it stand for? Where is it located?' is a) Sex-determining Region Y; Y chromosome; Nucleus. The SRY is a gene that stands for Sex-determining Region Y. It is a critical gene for the determination of sex in humans found on the Y chromosome, specifically on its short arm, typically associated with male development. The SRY gene is located within the cell nucleus, as this is where chromosomes are found.
During human embryonic development, the SRY gene initiates a cascade of events that lead to the development of male sex characteristics. Should the SRY gene be deleted or mutated, it can result in a condition known as Swyer syndrome, where an individual with an XY genotype does not develop male characteristics. Sex chromosomes consist of X and Y chromosomes; females have XX chromosomes, and males have an XY pairing. Without the presence of the SRY gene, as in the typical female XX chromosome configuration, the embryo will develop female characteristics, making female the 'default sex' of the human species.