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Fewer Sons Born Close to Sun
New study finds more girls born closer to equator
By Jess Kilby
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Posted Apr 1, 09 7:18 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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Women who live near the equator are more likely to give birth to baby girls than boys, the Independent reports. A new study has found a small but significant shift in gender ratios depending on latitude, with males comprising 51.1% of tropical births; the global sex ratio is 51.5% in favor of males.
Researchers studied birth data from 202 countries and found the ratio was even further skewed in steamier countries: The Central African Republic produces only 49% boys, for example. Researchers say the findings may reflect the fact that northern regions offer more varied food supplies than the tropics. Data was eliminated from countries where sex-specific abortions are known to regularly occur.