The Basic Premise
It is naturally necessary for women to have nipples to breastfeed their children during reproduction. However, since breastfeeding has no connection with men, why do they still have nipples?
It’s not just human males; male animals like goats, cows, dogs, cats, elephants, lions, and tigers also have nipples. They are clearly visible on human males, but they are often less noticeable on male animals, though they still exist.
Why is this the case? Let’s explore this clearly, step-by-step.
Semen vs. Sperm: A Crucial Difference
During sexual intercourse, sperm enters the female from the male. Some people mistakenly believe that Semen and Sperm are one and the same, but there is a major difference
The Female Template of Embryonic Development
When the sperm enters the egg, the fertilized cell (embryo) begins to grow. Generally, from the very first day of development, the embryo grows only with “female characteristics.”
In other words, every embryo in the world, regardless of its eventual sex, initially develops using a ‘Female Template.’ This developmental phase continues for about 6 to 7 weeks (almost 2 months)
Chromosomes and Sex Determination
Before proceeding, one important piece of information must be understood: Semen contains about 100 million sperms.
Note – All female egg cells always contain only one ‘X’ chromosome.
If the X chromosome enters the egg cell, it combines with the existing female X chromosome: X + X = ‘XX’, resulting in a female child.
If the Y chromosome enters the egg cell, it combines with the existing female X chromosome: X + Y = ‘XY’, resulting in a male child
Therefore, scientifically, if a woman consecutively has five daughters, the woman is not the cause. The male did not provide the Y chromosome necessary for a male child.
The Reason for Male Nipples
Now we arrive at the crucial point. As mentioned, the embryo initially grows only with female characteristics for about 7 weeks. Nipples begin to develop during this 7-week stage, regardless of whether the embryo is genetically male (XY) or female (XX).
During these 7 weeks, the incoming Y chromosome remains dormant, doing nothing. After this 7-week period, the Y chromosome sends a signal (or “order”) to the body.
Hey, I just gained self-awareness. Everyone start producing the male hormone, Testosterone!
Once this process begins, the embryo shifts to a male developmental path and starts forming male organs. However, the nipples, which formed before the Testosterone surge, remain and continue to grow at that initial stage, but they do not undergo the further development seen in female breasts.
In the case of a female embryo (XX), the female characteristics are already present. If the incoming chromosome is also X, no ‘order’ is given, and no sudden change is triggered, as the embryo is already developing along the female path. The female characteristics, including the nipples, continue their full development.
Thus, because all embryos initially develop with female characteristics, and the nipples form before the male-determining Y chromosome becomes active, it is impossible to prevent the formation of nipples on all male children.
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