- Made available online as an Accepted Preprint 6 November 2007
- Accepted Preprint first posted online on 6 November 2007
Evidence that mammalian sex ratios at birth are partially controlled by parental hormone levels around the time of conception
- The Galton Laboratory, University College London, Wolfson House, 4 Stephenson Way, London NW 1 2 HE, UK
- (Correspondence should be addressed to W H James; Email: whjames{at}waitrose.com)
Abstract
An attempt is made to summarize the evidence that the offspring sex ratios (proportions male at birth) of mammals (including man) are causally related to the hormone levels of both parents around the time of conception. Almost all of the cited studies were reported by non-endocrinologists. This being so, it would seem desirable to have comments of endocrinologists on this topic. The purpose of this article is to elicit such comment. Readers are requested to read the accompanying editorial (Clark & Davis 2008) to gain a better perspective of this hypothesis article.
- Received in final form 31 October 2007
- Accepted 6 November 2007
- © 2008 Society for Endocrinology
