Final answer:
Mothers naturally pass on only X chromosomes, and fathers contribute either an X or Y chromosome, which results in a 50:50 male to female birth ratio. However, if mothers could determine the sex of their offspring, one would expect a deviation from this natural birth ratio, possibly leading to significant social and biological consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
If mothers could determine the sex of their offspring, one would expect a deviation from the natural 50:50 ratio of male to female births that results from the random chance of inheritance of sex chromosomes. Under natural circumstances, mothers pass only X chromosomes to their children, while fathers pass an X chromosome to daughters and a Y chromosome to sons. Therefore, it is the father's sperm that determines the sex of the offspring, creating an equal probability of having a male or female child. The parental sex chromosomes that come together during fertilization dictate whether a baby will have two X chromosomes (female XX) or one X and one Y chromosome (male XY).Inheritance of Sex ChromosomesMothers always pass on an X chromosome, but fathers have a 50 percent chance of passing on either an X or a Y chromosome.
Every conception is an independent event in terms of determining a child's sex. Therefore, previous births do not influence the sex of future children, maintaining the natural possibility of giving birth to both genders.However, should mothers have the ability to choose, the resulting sex ratio in a population could be skewed, potentially leading to social, demographic, and biological implications.The sex of a baby is determined by the sex chromosomes inherited from the parents. When a baby receives two X chromosomes, it will be female. If the baby receives an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromosome from the father, it will be male.A mother can only pass on an X chromosome, so the sex of the baby is determined by the father. The father has a 50 percent chance of passing on either an X or Y chromosome, resulting in a 50:50 chance of having a male or female child.