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{{About|the male sex|the capital of the Maldives|Malé|other uses}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
[[File:Mars symbol.svg|thumb|The symbol of the Roman god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] (god of war) is often used to represent the male sex. It also stands for the planet [[Mars]] and is the [[alchemical symbol]] for [[iron]].]]▼
'''Male''' ([[Mars symbol|symbol]]: [[♂]]) is the [[sex]] of an [[organism]] that produces the [[gamete]] (sex cell) known as [[sperm]], which fuses with the larger [[female]] gamete,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lehtonen|first1=Jussi|last2=Parker|first2=Geoff A.|date=2014-12-01|title=Gamete competition, gamete limitation, and the evolution of the two sexes|url=https://academic.oup.com/molehr/article/20/12/1161/1062990|journal=Molecular Human Reproduction|language=en|volume=20|issue=12|pages=1161–1168|doi=10.1093/molehr/gau068|pmid=25323972|issn=1360-9947|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Fusco|first1=Giuseppe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AKGsDwAAQBAJ&q=the+biology+of+reproduction+define+sex|title=The Biology of Reproduction|last2=Minelli|first2=Alessandro|date=2019-10-10|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-108-49985-9|pages=111–113|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hine |first1=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gMf9CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA354 |title=A Dictionary of Biology |last2=Martin |first2=Elizabeth |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-871437-8 |page=354 |language=en}}</ref> or [[ovum]], in the process of [[fertilization]].▼
▲[[File:Mars symbol.svg|thumb|The symbol of the Roman god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] (god of war) is often used to represent the male sex. It also stands for the planet [[Mars]] and is the [[alchemical symbol]] for [[iron]].]]
▲'''Male''' ([[
In humans, the word ''male'' can also be used to refer to [[gender]], in the social sense of [[gender role]] or [[gender identity]].<ref name=palazzani/>{{Better source needed|reason=The source does not directly state this information, and only uses the terms in passing.|date=April 2023}} The use of "male" in regard to sex and gender has been subject to [[Sex–gender distinction|discussion]].
== Overview ==
The existence of separate sexes has evolved independently at different times and in different [[lineage (evolution)|lineages]], an example of [[convergent evolution]].<ref name="
Accordingly, sex is defined across species by the type of gametes produced (i.e.: spermatozoa vs. ova) and differences between males and females in one lineage are not always predictive of differences in another.<ref name="
[[sexual dimorphism|Male/female dimorphism]] between organisms or reproductive organs of different sexes is not limited to animals; male gametes are produced by [[chytrid]]s, [[diatom]]s and land [[plant]]s, among others. In land plants, ''female'' and ''male'' designate not only the female and male gamete-producing organisms and structures but also the structures of the [[sporophyte]]s that give rise to male and female plants.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
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== Evolution ==
{{See also|Evolution of sexual reproduction|Sex#Evolution of sex}}
The [[Anisogamy#Evolution|evolution of anisogamy]] led to the evolution of male and female function.<ref name=Bachtrogetal>{{Cite journal|last1=Bachtrog|first1=Doris|last2=Mank|first2=Judith E.|last3=Peichel|first3=Catherine L.|last4=Kirkpatrick|first4=Mark|last5=Otto|first5=Sarah P.|last6=Ashman|first6=Tia-Lynn|last7=Hahn|first7=Matthew W.|last8=Kitano|first8=Jun|last9=Mayrose|first9=Itay|last10=Ming|first10=Ray|last11=Perrin|first11=Nicolas|date=2014-07-01|title=Sex Determination: Why So Many Ways of Doing It?|journal=PLOS Biology|language=en|volume=12|issue=7|pages=e1001899|doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.1001899|issn=1545-7885|pmc=4077654|pmid=24983465 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Before the evolution of anisogamy, [[
== Symbol, etymology, and usage <span class="anchor" id="Symbol and usage"></span>==
=== Symbol ===
A common [[gender symbol|symbol]] used to represent the male sex is the [[Mars symbol]] ♂, a circle with an arrow pointing [[Ordinal direction|northeast]]. The [[Unicode]] code-point is:
:{{unichar|2642|MALE SIGN|html=}}
The symbol is identical to the planetary symbol of [[Mars]]. It was first used to denote sex by [[Carl Linnaeus]] in 1751. The symbol is sometimes seen as a stylized representation of the shield and spear of the Roman god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]]. According to [[William T. Stearn]], however, this derivation is "fanciful" and all the historical evidence favours "the conclusion of the French classical scholar [[Claude de Saumaise]] (Salmasius, 1588{{ndash}}1683)" that it is derived from ''θρ'', the contraction of a Greek name for the planet Mars, which is ''Thouros''.<ref>{{Cite journal |jstor = 1217734|title = The Origin of the Male and Female Symbols of Biology|journal = Taxon|volume = 11|issue = 4|pages = 109–113|last1 = Stearn|first1 = William T.|year = 1962|doi = 10.2307/1217734}}</ref>
=== Etymology ===
Borrowed from [[Old French]] ''masle'', from [[Latin]] ''masculus'' ("masculine, male, worthy of a man"), diminutive of ''mās'' ("male person or animal, male").<ref>{{cite web |title=male {{!}} Etymology, origin and meaning of male by etymonline |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/male#etymonline_v_6731 |website=www.etymonline.com |publisher=[[Etymonline]] |access-date=23 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Usage ===
In humans, the word ''male'' can be used in the context of [[gender]], such as for gender role or gender identity of a [[man]] or [[boy]].<ref name=palazzani>{{cite book |
''Male'' can also refer to [[gender of connectors and fasteners|a shape of connectors]].<ref>{{cite book| author =J. Richard Johnson | title= How to Build Electronic Equipment | year =1962 | page=167 | quote=To minimize confusion, the connector portions with projecting prongs are referred to as the 'male' portion, and the sockets as the 'female' portion.| publisher = Rider | location = New York}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author =Richard Ferncase | title =Film and Video Lighting Terms and Concepts | year=2013 | page=96 | quote= female[:] Refers to a socket type connector, which must receive a male connector | isbn= 9780240801575 | publisher = Hoboken Taylor and Francis}}</ref>
== Males across species ==
Species that are divided into females and males are classified as [[Gonochorism|gonochoric]] in animals, as [[Dioecy|dioecious]] in [[seed plants]]<ref
Males can coexist with hermaphrodites, a [[sexual system]] called [[androdioecy]]. They can also coexist with females and hermaphrodites, a sexual system called [[trioecy]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Leonard |first=Janet L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0rWZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 |title=Transitions Between Sexual Systems: Understanding the Mechanisms of, and Pathways Between, Dioecy, Hermaphroditism and Other Sexual Systems |date=2019-05-21 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-94139-4 |pages=1–3 |language=en}}</ref>
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[[File:Anterior view of human female and male, with labels 2.png|thumb|Photograph of an adult male human, with an adult [[female]] for comparison. Both models have partially shaved body hair; e.g. clean-shaven pubic regions.]]
The sex of a particular organism may be determined by a number of factors. These may be genetic or environmental, or may naturally change during the course of an organism's life. Although most species have only two sexes (either male or female),<ref name="
Not all species share a common [[sex-determination system]]. In most [[animal]]s, including [[Homo sapiens|humans]], sex is determined [[genetics|genetically]]; however, species such as ''[[Cymothoa exigua]]'' change sex depending on the number of females present in the vicinity.<ref>{{cite web |last=Creighton |first=Jolene |author-link=Jolene Creighton |title=The Most Horrifying Parasite: The Sex-Changing Tongue-Eating Cymothoa Exigua |url=http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/the-most-horrifying-parasite-cymothoa-exigua/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107080752/http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/the-most-horrifying-parasite-cymothoa-exigua/ |archive-date=November 7, 2013 |access-date=7 April 2014 |work=From Quarks to Quasars}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=August 2021}}
=== Genetic determination ===
Most [[mammal]]s, including [[human]]s, are genetically determined as such by the [[XY sex-determination system]] where males have
The part of the Y-chromosome which is responsible for maleness is the sex-determining region of the Y-chromosome, the [[SRY]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reference|first=Genetics Home|title=SRY gene|url=https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/SRY|access-date=2020-07-22|website=Genetics Home Reference|language=en}}</ref> The SRY activates [[Sox9]], which forms feedforward loops with [[FGF9]] and [[PGD2|PGD<sub>2</sub>]] in the [[gonad]]s, allowing the levels of these genes to stay high enough in order to cause male development;<ref name="Moniot">{{cite journal | last1=Moniot | first1=Brigitte | last2=Declosmenil | first2=Faustine | last3=Barrionuevo | first3=Francisco | last4=Scherer | first4=Gerd | last5=Aritake | first5=Kosuke | last6=Malki | first6=Safia | last7=Marzi | first7=Laetitia | last8=Cohen-Solal | first8=Ann | last9=Georg | first9=Ina | last10=Klattig | first10=Jürgen | last11=Englert | first11=Christoph | last12=Kim | first12=Yuna | last13=Capel | first13=Blanche | last14=Eguchi | first14=Naomi | last15=Urade | first15=Yoshihiro | last16=Boizet-Bonhoure | first16=Brigitte | last17=Poulat | first17=Francis | year=2009 | title=The PGD2 pathway, independently of FGF9, amplifies SOX9 activity in Sertoli cells during male sexual differentiation| journal=Development| volume=136| issue=11| pages=1813–1821| pmid = 19429785 | doi=10.1242/dev.032631| pmc=4075598 }}</ref> for example, Fgf9 is responsible for development of the [[spermatic cord]]s and the multiplication of [[Sertoli cell]]s, both of which are crucial to male sexual development.<ref>{{Cite journal
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| pmid = 16700629
| pmc =1463023
| doi-access = free
}}</ref>
The [[ZW sex-determination system]], where males have
=== Environmental determination ===
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Male animals have evolved to use secondary sex characteristics as a way of displaying traits that signify their [[Fitness (biology)|fitness]]. [[Sexual selection]] is believed to be the driving force behind the development of these characteristics. Differences in physical size and the ability to fulfill the requirements of sexual selection have contributed significantly to the outcome of secondary sex characteristics in each species.<ref name="Campbell">{{cite book |vauthors=Campbell B|title=Human Evolution: An Introduction to Man's Adaptations|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-1351514415|year=2017|pages=392–393|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ctwzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT392}}</ref>
In many species, males differ from females in more ways than just the production of sperm. For example, in some insects and fish, the male is smaller than the female. In seed plants, the [[flower|sporophyte sex organ]] of a single organism includes both the male and female parts.
In mammals, including humans, males are typically larger than females. This is often attributed to the need for male mammals to be physically stronger and more competitive in order to win mating opportunities. In humans specifically, males have more body hair and muscle mass than females.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Ellis|first1=Lee|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Skw2mezpvO4C&q=sex+differences+in+size&pg=PA21|title=Sex Differences: Summarizing More than a Century of Scientific Research|last2=Hershberger|first2=Scott|last3=Field|first3=Evelyn|last4=Wersinger|first4=Scott|last5=Pellis|first5=Sergio|last6=Geary|first6=David|last7=Palmer|first7=Craig|last8=Hoyenga|first8=Katherine|last9=Hetsroni|first9=Amir|date=2013-05-13|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-1-136-87493-2|language=en}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=August 2021}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Richards|first1=Julia E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MUw0eHzuH2AC&q=secondary+sex+characteristics&pg=PA277|title=The Human Genome|last2=Hawley|first2=R. Scott|date=2010-12-12|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=978-0-08-091865-5|language=en}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=August 2021}}
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== See also ==
{{Wiktionary}}▼
{{commons category|Males|lcfirst=yes}}▼
* [[Male pregnancy]]
* [[Masculinity]]
* [[Gentleman]]
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== Further reading ==
▲{{commons category|Males|lcfirst=yes}}
▲{{Wiktionary}}
* {{cite journal|last=Wedgwood|first=Hensleigh|author-link=Hensleigh Wedgwood|title=On False Etymologies|journal=Transactions of the Philological Society|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3924121;view=1up;seq=78|year=1855|issue=6|pages=68}}
{{Sex (biology)}}
{{Sexual identities}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Male| ]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Sex]]
[[Category:Men]]
[[Category:Boys]]
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