question_answer

Kavita was very happy when she gave birth to her first child. But her in-laws were unhappy and blamed on Kavita to give a female child. Kavita tried to convince them that she had no role in the child's gender. Then Kavita's husband took up the matter and convinced the parents.

(i) What values did Kavita's husband show in the above situation?

(ii) What governs sex determination in humans?

(iii) Why can't Kavita be blamed for not giving birth to a male child?

 

Answer:

(i)  Strong and determined personality with lesponsibility towards the family and respect for elders.

(ii) Sex chromosomes. In human males it is XY and female it is XX.

Human females are homogametic i.e. produces only one type of gamete containing 22+X chromosomes only. Males are heterogametic and produce two types of gametes 22+X and 22 + Y. It is the type of male gamete which determines the sex of the foetus. If X chromosome containing sperm fuses with the egg, it produces a female child whereas if Y chromosome containing sperm fuses with the egg, it produces a male child.