why do males have nipples?

Question

if they serve no purpose?

Answer 1

Everything starts out as female, then gets that extra chromosome or whatever and becomes male. Or I may have that backwards. If that were the case, why aren't men the ones breast feeding?...i need sleep.

Answer 2

There are basically just a few periods in life during which sexual differences develop. But first, DNA.

It's worth noting that there is only ONE gene that determines gender. Don't think that this gene causes the hundreds of differences between men and women directly - instead it turns on and off other genes. This is an important point. Everyone has the necessary DNA (with the exception of that one gene) to be completely male or completely female.

The very first time that one sexual gene is activated occurs in the womb. Before this, there are no gender differences. Because it is a gene that causes 'maleness', the 'default' condition of a fetus is female before that point. Genitalia develop differently after that point and make up what are generally called 'primary sexual characteristics'. These are the things that make a boy different from a girl... not necessarily the things that make a man different from a woman.

The latter distinction is an important one. Since, as we mentioned, everybody has all the DNA to be either female or male, many of the things that both boys and girls have are just a set-up that only one of the genders will take full advantage of. That happens in puberty. Then people develop what are called 'secondary sexual characteristics' - those things that distinguish a man from a woman.

So men have nipples, and even milk-secreting glands, but only women generally make much use of them. Still, enough hormones can mess any of nature's plans up from time to time. Newborn babies, for example (even male ones!) sometimes secrete milk as they are awash with the hormones of being born (it's colloquially called "witches' milk"). And sometimes an irregularity in the womb or in puberty can cause someone who is genetically male to never develop a penis, or someone who is female to put on muscle and grow facial hair instead of menses.

It's probably a lot more common than you think.

Answer 3

Bored basically has it correct. Contrary to what the bible says females are the original. The "Default" if you want. A fetus's gender is set at conception with the creation of its DNA. If there is a "Y" chromosome then it activates the production of certain hormones that make the child male. If there is no Y chromosome or if it there is one but it lacks the "male" gene (pretty unusual) then the baby develops as a female.

So the short of it is that nipples are the default and a man's body deactivates them. Theoretically you could make a man lactate with the right hormone treatments, but I hate to think of the long term consequences.

Answer 4

We are mammals, we have nipples. All mammals have them, it is a trait that is passed along regardless of sex. And I wouldn't say they have no purpose, you could have ended up a female. Evolution doesnt take any chances,- everyone gets nipples and the sex that produces the estrogen gets the milk production.

Answer 5

Because when god created humans, he was both a lazy and inefficient engineer.

Seriously, most biologists will tell you...the human body was NOT intelligently designed.

Answer 6

bored, you have it right! Even with lack of sleep you got it going on!!

Answer 7

Because their chest would look funny without them. :)

Answer 8

I wish I could tell you!

Answer 9

to make them horny and twist.