Telegony: when male DNA remains in a female long enough to contribute to her offspring, even if he is not the actual father. Can it happen w/ humans?

[MargaritaPeach]

Granted, the study has only been proven to be true in flies. And I am not entirely sure how accurate or conclusive it is, given that flies look a lot alike. They don't have many differentiating features, really. But do you think the concept is a biologically sound one? Has anyone ever had a child that looked like one of your lovers from way back when? Or had some of their features? It's an interesting theory.

[Gigglebytes]

Seems like a legitimate and testable hypothesis.🤔 I'm not sure but I'll take my best stab at it.

In order for such a thing to happen several things would have to occur.

First ovulation, there would have to be a viable egg present

The human male DNA from another source than sperm would have to somehow get into the uterus. Not impossible but highly implausible in my opinion.

Then the DNA has to breach the egg and somehow transmit only half of the chromosomes in order to form a zygote. I guess in theory the kid could have the extra ones too but I don't it would survive.

I'm not a scientist. Yet.😊 But I don't think it's at all likely to occur by any means other than deliberate human tampering.

Please add if you think of anything I didn't.

Cheers

[Gigglebytes]

I guess I should've mentioned that the sperm don't survive lol, that would leave the only other option to be his DNA from another source. Getting ahead of myself as usual😊

[9mfeo]

That sounds like pseudoscientific bullshit designed to penalize women for their sexuality.

[guy532]

There's no way that can happen in humans since all of the sperm dies off in a couple hours after being introduced into a female. The female reproductive system is actually a pretty harsh environment for sperm. Also, lets not forget the fact that it takes two haploid cells to cross over to produce a zygote.

[MargaritaPeach]

The sperm dies, yes. But the DNA in the sperm is absorbed into our bodies.

[MargaritaPeach]

But for the record, I think you're right. I think whatever goes in, dies off, and that's about the end of it. Unless, if course, you go on to create a tiny human.

[guy532]

the dna just gets broken down into smaller amino acid chains (protein) which are then absorbed and used as fuel by your body or excreted out.

[MargaritaPeach]

But there is still the phenomenon of microchimerism in women who have never been pregnant (to the best if their knowledge). Which leads researchers to assume that male DNA of our sexual partners alters our DNA; the American Journal of Medicine published a study on it in 2004.

[guy532]

I'd have to read up on it some more then when I have time. It does seem interesting, thank you for sharing :).

[Red_Arrow]

It is a theory that has been disproved. As for the fly thing, the traits that were passed were environmental, not genetic.

[MargaritaPeach]

Oh, that makes sense--the environmental factors. Thanks for the info!

[Red_Arrow]

Thank you for MHGuy. :-)

[Bandit74]

I don't know enough about biology to answer that bit I imagine guys would be even more hesitant to settle down with a promiscuous woman if it was proven to be true.