How is the sex of the child determined in human beings?
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Solution
Sex determination of human beings:
The sex of a child in humans is determined by which type of male gamete (i.e. X and Y chromosomes) fertilizes with the female gamete (i.e. X and X chromosomes).
There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in each mother and father, 22 of which are Autosomes, and only one pair, the 23rd, is the sex chromosome, which actively participates in the process of sex determination.
Males and females both have two sets of sex chromosomes; a male (XY) has one X and one Y sex chromosome, whereas a female (XX) has both X sex chromosomes, one of which is active.
During fertilization, sperm fertilizes the egg cell, resulting in the formation of a zygote.
If X-chromosome sperm fertilizes an X-chromosome ovum, the child will be a girl (XX), whereas Y-chromosome sperm fertilizes an X-chromosome ovum, the child will be a boy (XY).
