To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date sent: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 16:36:40 GMT
From: Jerry Dallal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Organization: Tufts University
Subject: Re: Sex Ratio, part 2
> Wolfgang Rolke wrote:
> > d) hlau wrote:
> > > ["...When couples have sex more often,
> > > fertilization is more likely to occur early in the menstrual
> > > cycle, which apparently increases the odds of male conception.
> > > Some observers believe this conjecture explains why the percentage
> > > of baby boys has usually increased after major wars."]
> >
> > Now this is my favorite. I seem to have known this almost
> > forever,
> > but I have never been sure whether or not it is really true or
> > whether it is an urban legend. Are there any studies that show a
> > relationship between frequency of intercourse and the sex of the
> > baby? Now here is a data set that my students could get excited
> > about! (Pun intended)
>
> This too may be an myth, but I have been told that sperm with
> Y chromosomes are more mobile and shorter lived than those with X
> chromosomes. Hence, the greater the frequency of intercourse, the
> more likely some of those more mobile Y chromosome sperm will be
> lurking when the egg arrives.
>
It is a bit more than that. I seem to remember this being one of the
theories put into an article in New Scientist about a year ago. The
reason being is that there is some evidence for some control over
the gender ratio in populations. This being particularly marked in
one group of native north Americans who produce more females
than males. This group relies on intermarriage with other tribes for
its survival. I do not think the publication date was 1st April
------------------------------------------------------
Jean M. Russell M.A. M.Sc. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Corporate Information & Computing Services,
University of Sheffield
Phone: 0114-222-3098
Fax : 0114-222-3040
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