to think this is basic biology?

[juneybean]

Just caught the back end of Million Pound drop where the question was What determines the gender? The Egg or The Sperm.

The couple in question honestly didn't know the answer and I have just asked a friend and she didn't know either.

I seriously thought it was common knowledge

I wouldnt know either.

Your friend, and the people on the telly are thick.

But a surprising number of people are.

I have three boys, and the amount of people that ask me if DH wants 'one more' to try for a girl - and are then shocked when I tell them the man determines the sex!

Sperm!

And you squeaky

(it's sperm btw!)

Basic GCSE biology, if nothing else.

I thought it was common knowledge too

How much did they not win?

Davina's getting creepier by the day.

The way I learnt was that women are XX and men are XY therefore an egg will always be an X.

I'm totally sat here

I suppose it depends on how interested you are in biology. You learn lots of facts, if those facts interest you, you might retain the knowledge. If they don't, chances are you won't.

I cannot remember how much it was about £125-150k

It's not common knowledge?

Well I just had to ask DH, who has now re-explained the whole X Y chromosone thing.

So in terms of any survey that would give you four who didnt know and two (you and DH) who did...

Sperm can be x or y whereas eggs are always x. However, it is not necessarily so simple. Some women are more receptive to either x or y sperm than others etc. So, whilst sperm determines gender, the female may be more receptive to keeping x or y sperm alive iyswim.

P.S. - whackamole there is a difference between 'thick' and 'informed'.
I am most definitely not thick, just happened to be forgetful / ignorant of said 'basic biology' fact until juney posted.

its taught in basic science so yes it is common knowledge. MagratGarlik I agree though there is rare abnormalities where a fertilised egg can be xxy or something but extremely rare.

Did creepy Davina actually say what determines gender or what determines sex, btw?

Oh I'm not sure, it was over an hour ago when I was at work, it was bugging me ever since though.

That's interesting Magrat

I had to turn it off before I put a foot through the tv in frustration.

Even 11yo ds knew.

Good post MagratGarlik

I agree Magrat that is interesting- does it explain why some families have many of one gender? What is the thinking behind what causes that to be the case?

I was shouting at the tv...thought for a final question on there it was more simple than usual. Davina clearly knew, she had to turn away!

Not everyone retains things they learn though and under that stress and pressure brains can turn to mush.

Yes, Littlepicnic, that is (at least) one explaination of why some families are heavily dominant in one gender or another.

I would say that was pretty basic biology, certainly pre-GCSE.

It's common knowledge. I was amazed they didn't know.