Why are people with an odd number of chromosomes able to reproduce if animals with an odd number of chromosomes cannot?

563 views

I want to be very clear, I am not saying that there is anything wrong with people with Down syndrome having or raising children. I am confused because I learn in high school biology that animals like mules cannot reproduce because of their odd number of chromosomes so why is this not true for humans with an odd number of chromosomes?

In: 146

9 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

You’re thinking of this incorrectly. A mule is a mix between a donkey and a horse, it can’t reproduce because it’s a genetic monstrosity made of two different animals. This is why they can’t bread, because they’re missing important reproductive genes. This would be like if a human had a baby with an gorilla.

Someone with Down syndrome is still a human made of two humans, so most of the genetic material is available for baby making.

You are viewing 1 out of 9 answers, click here to view all answers.