Which parent determines the sex of the offspring?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the biological mechanism behind sex determination in offspring, specifically which parent contributes to this process. Generally, in humans and many other organisms, it is the male parent (father) who determines the sex of the offspring through the type of sperm he produces.
Answer
The father determines the sex of the offspring.
The final answer is the father determines the sex of the offspring by providing either an X or Y chromosome.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is the father determines the sex of the offspring by providing either an X or Y chromosome.
More Information
In humans, the sex of the offspring is determined by the sperm from the father that merges with the egg from the mother. Eggs always carry an X chromosome, but sperm can carry either an X or a Y chromosome. If the sperm carries an X chromosome, the offspring will be female (XX). If the sperm carries a Y chromosome, the offspring will be male (XY).
Sources
- Sex determination in humans - embryo.asu.edu
- Which Parent Determines the Gender of the Child? - dnacenter.com
- Boy or girl? It's in the father's genes - Newcastle University - ncl.ac.uk
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