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I mean, theres an obvious reason why women have them...logically they aren't an accident and they aren't necessary so why?

2007-02-21 06:51:46 · 4 answers · asked by J: 1 in Science & Mathematics Biology

4 answers

Nipples develop in men (and not just women) because they aren't actually sex-linked characteristics. They develop as a result of genes on autosomal chromosomes (the 22 pairs that have nothing to do with determining a baby's gender). So everyone has the genes that code for nipple creation, and they always switch on during development.

Nipples form at about 4 weeks in fetal development, whereas the sex hormones that turn the urogenital goodies into the right parts for the gender only start being produced at about 7 weeks.

2007-02-21 07:01:39 · answer #1 · answered by Brian L 7 · 1 0

Its not always a question of necessity. The expression of the Y chomosome changes the development course of an embryo. As an embryo, we all start ou looking virtually the same (even other species look similar). These expressed differences cause different growth patterns and cell development. Its just like the same group of cells that form the male testes also form the female ovaries.

2007-02-21 15:04:45 · answer #2 · answered by HealthGuru 2 · 0 0

embryos for men and women start out basically the same. As the embryos develop, the presence of testosterone causes it to start growing male reproductive organs instead of female ones. However, before this happens the nipples have already been formed (they're part of the basic body parts both sexes get before sex is determined).

2007-02-21 15:02:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Human sexual dimorphism is based on a unisex plan that diverges under the influence of hormones. The root structures either develop with sexual maturity, as breasts in the female, or remain vestigial (breasts in male). There have been cases in which males have been able to nurse infants, and, in fact, produced milk.

Insofar as the telelogy is concerned, I leave that to philosophers. The ontology is clear.

2007-02-21 15:01:46 · answer #4 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 1 0

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