Gonadal development

Gonadal development refers to how the reproductive organs—testes in males and ovaries in females—form during early fetal growth. It begins with the gonads appearing as undifferentiated tissue. Depending on genetic signals, these gonads develop into testes or ovaries: in males, testes produce hormones that guide male characteristics; in females, ovaries develop to produce eggs and female hormones. This process is influenced by genes and hormones, and it determines sexual development and reproductive abilities later in life.