THIS refers to the report, ‘Man kills wife for giving birth to 6 daughters’ (Nov 7). There is a general misconception that the mother is responsible for determining the gender of the baby when it is the other way round.

Women have only X chromosomes while males have both X and Y chromosomes. However, the ratio between X and Y chromosomes in the male sperm varies. Some males may have say 75:25 ratio of chromosomes while others 30:70. If the male provides an X chromosome, and the female providing only X chromosomes, a girl will be conceived. If the male provides a Y chromosome, the combination of X and Y chromosomes will produce a boy.

Thousands of wives are divorced in our country for not producing a male heir. Some are even killed. All this is due to lack of education and basic medical information.

When a pregnant woman registers at a hospital or maternity clinic, it is the duty of the attending doctor to pass on this information to the husband and the wife, especially the husband because usually he is the one who does not accept a female child and blames his wife for it.

Doctors and lady health workers must provide this important social service in order to save lives and prevent break-up of families.

ASIF JAH

Karachi