Large studies involving adoptees demonstrate that the effect is not due to being raised with older brothers, but appears to have something to do with changes induced in the Uterus when Gestating a boy that affects subsequent sons. It is hypothesized that the fraternal birth order effect may be caused by increasing levels of Antibodies produced by the mother to the HY Antigen with each son. The HY antigen (histocompatibility Y-antigen) is found on the surface of the Cell s of male Mammal s. The presence of this foreign chemical when bearing a son could trigger the mother's Immune Response , which may then lead to different Brain development patterns in later male children.
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- Blanchard, R., Zucker, K.J., Siegelman, M., Dickey, R. & Klassen, P. (1998). The relation of birth order to sexual orientation in men and women. ''Journal of Biosocial Science'', :511-519.
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- Wachtel, S. S. (1983) ''H–Y Antigen and the Biology of Sex Determination''. Grune & Stratton, New York.
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