Mongolism, delayed fertilization and sexual behaviour

James, W.H.

Nature 219(5151): 279-280

1968


ISSN/ISBN: 0028-0836
PMID: 4233592
DOI: 10.1038/219279a0
Document Number: 516604
GERMAN1 has suggested that some hours after ovulation the human ovum may deteriorate while still remaining fertilizable. If it is fertilized in this condition, he suggests, it may give rise to a mongol infant. The maternal age effect in mongolism, on this hypothesis, is caused by the decline in coital frequency with maternal age, the decline in coital frequency occasioning a greater risk of fertilizing a deteriorated ovum.

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