title: Evidence that mammalian sex ratios at birth are partially controlled by parental hormone levels around the time of conception.
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.
authors.affiliation: The Galton Laboratory, University College London, Wolfson House, 4 Stephenson Way, London NW 1 2 HE, UK. whjames@waitrose.com
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003634:DDT / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D059910:HLA-B15 Antigen; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D010923:Placenta Previa / Q000503:physiopathology; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013997:Time Factors; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D059910:HLA-B15 Antigen; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D003634:DDT