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Mongolism, Delayed Fertilization and Sexual Behaviour

Nature volume 219, pages 279–280 (1968)Cite this article

Abstract

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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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biometry, University College, University of London,

    WILLIAM H. JAMES

Authors
  1. WILLIAM H. JAMES
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JAMES, W. Mongolism, Delayed Fertilization and Sexual Behaviour. Nature 219, 279–280 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/219279a0

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