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Human Reproduction, Vol. 11, No. 11, pp. 2371-2375, 1996
© 1996 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

other

Sex determination and the maternal dominance hypothesis

Valerie J. Grant

Department Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, School of Medicine, University of Auckland New Zealand

The maternal dominance hypothesis has been derived from work with humans which shows that women who are more dominant than other women are more likely to conceive sons. In both animals and humans dominance is a characteristic or personality trait, underpinned by testosterone and responsive to a range of environmental changes: physical, social and psychological. Studies of the sex ratio in the social sciences and animal behaviour either support or are compatible with the idea that the sex-determining role of X- and Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa may be preceded by factors under maternal control which provide for differential access of spermatozoa. Findings in reproductive physiology and physiological psychology suggest that folh'cular testosterone or a related hormone may play a critical role. Reproductive physiologists have already identified maternal mechanisms which could provide the context for such a model.

Key words: maternal dominance/sex determination/sex ratio


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