The Paradox of the XY Oocyte
- 1 April 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in American Journal of Diseases of Children
- Vol. 133 (4) , 365-366
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1979.02130040019001
Abstract
Somehow, when I first saw the elegant photomicrograph of an ovum in a primordial follicle in the article by Cussen and MacMahon (p 373), I was reminded of Fitz-James O'Brien's 19th century fantasy "The Diamond Lens." O'Brien wrote of a young physician who obtained a large rose-colored diamond (by murdering the owner, of course) and converted it into a remarkable lens for his trusty Spencer Trunnion Microscope. While examining a drop of water on a slide, he discovered a beautiful female homunculus whom he named Animula. He wondered why a nice girl like her should be in a place like that, and forthwith fell hopelessly in love. One could sense the inevitable tragedy as the drop began to dry up. So it is with the ovum and primordial follicle of Cussen and MacMahon, situated in the tissue of a dysgenetic gonad that when cultured showed the improbable karyotype of 46,XY.Keywords
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