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Science Want a boy baby, UK study says eat a lot of food
Science Want a boy baby, UK study says eat a lot of food | Want a boy baby, UK study says eat a lot of food |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Thursday, 24 April 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 2 Thus, the conclusion of the study is thought to explain why fewer boys are being born in industrialized countries. This decline in the percentage of boys born is thought to be primarily due to the current trend toward women being on diets more than they were in the past. Thus, with fewer calories consumed during conception and pregnancy, fewer boys are conceived. Biologically, animals have been found by scientists to produce more male offspring when times are good (food is plentiful, etc.) because males produce more grandchildren. However, animals produce more female offspring when times are bad because females produce more grandchildren in those times. Specifically, Fiona Mathews, the lead author in the study, states, "This research may help to explain why in developed countries, where many young women choose to have low calorie diets, the proportion of boys born is falling.” “Our findings are particularly interesting given the recent debates within the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Committee about whether to regulate 'gender' clinics that allow parents to select offspring sex, by manipulating sperm, for non-medical reasons.” “Here we have evidence of a 'natural' mechanism that means that women appear to be already controlling the sex of their offspring by their diet." [Science Daily: “Mother's Diet Influences Infant Sex: High Energy Intake Linked To Conception Of Sons”] Mathews adds, "Potentially, males of most species can father more offspring than females, but this can be strongly influenced by the size or social status of the male, with poor quality males failing to breed at all. Females, on the other hand, reproduce more consistently. If a mother has plentiful resources then it can make sense to invest in producing a son because he is likely to produce more grandchildren than would a daughter. However, in leaner times having a daughter is a safer bet."
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