Question

What will be the sex of the child born:
(a) if X chromosome carrying sperm fuses with an egg cell carrying X chromosome?
(b) if Y chromosome carrying sperm fertilizes an ovum containing X chromosome?

Answer 1

Answer:

1. A baby girl is born
2. A baby boy is born

Answer 2

(a) Female child

(b) Male child

Explanation:

The method of determining sex of an individual is done by noting the presence of sex chromosomes.  Each human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, of which 22 pairs are called autosomes. Autosomes are similar in both males and females and are responsible for the various characteristics of an individual. The 23rd pair is called the sex chromosomes and they differ for a male and a female. We have two types of sex chromosomes X and Y in humans. Females have XX chromosomes, while males have XY chromosomes.

(a) When the sperm containing the X chromosome fertilises the egg, then the zygote develops into a female.

(b) When the sperm containing the Y chromosome fertilises the egg, then the zygote develops into a male.