Healthy Care Program: PREGNANCY GENETICS AND VARIATIONS

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Chromosomes from each mother and father are responsible for the physical traits and health of each baby.

Pregnancy is not just about physical changes in your body. It also involves incredibly complicated biological processes that are taking place even when you are unaware of them. Each of you brings twenty three single chromosomes to your baby; twenty three from the egg and twenty three from the sperm cell. The egg contains twenty two chromosomes plus one X chromosome. The sperm contains twenty two chromosomes plus either an X or a Y chromosome, which will determine the gender of your baby. Once the ovum is fertilized by the sperm, it will contain forty six chromosomes. These chromosomes play a role in the genetic makeup of your baby including gender, hair color, eye color, height, and other physical traits.

If you are expecting twins, they can be formed in various ways. One is with two separate eggs and two sperm, known as dizygotic twins or fraternal twins. These twins will have the same genetics as two siblings born at different times. The twins will have separate sacs and placentas. Monozygotic or identical twins are formed when one fertilized egg divides around four to eight days after fertilization. Identical twins will have exactly the same genetic makeup. As you explore questions about your own baby's genetic makeup, you may want to ask your care provider about the tests available.