Consecutive sons (or daughters) being born

[BrendaP]

Assuming that it is exactly a 50:50 chance each time of having a boy the chances of an only child being a boy is 1 in 2. 
The chances of two children both being boys is 1 in (2x2) = 1 in 4.
The chances of three children all being boys is 1 in (2x2x2) = 1 in 8
The chances of four children all being boys is 1 in (2x2x2x2) = 1 in 16
5 children = 1 in 32
6 children = 1 in 64
7 children = 1 in 128
8 children = 1 in 256
9 children = 1 in 512
10 children = 1 in 1028
and so on.  So, if you can find 1028 families with ten children, statistically the chances are that one family will have all boys, one family all girls and the others will have all the other possible combinations of boys and girls.

My 3xgt grandmother had 7 boys and no girls before dying at only 34 years of age.

BrendaP

[tarajobrien]

Hi

All my families have a fair mix of girls and boys

But I did some genetics as part of my degree and there are in fact more boys born than girls but as boys tend to be more accident prone in the young years, so the numbers of boys veruses girls even up in the later years.

Tara

[Boongie Pam]

I am personally mathematically challenged but I do know a wee bit about biology. 

There is evidence to show that some men will have a propensity to produce one of the genders over the other. 

Henry VIII is oft cited, as it was probably his own genetics that meant he would have difficulty siring a boy.

There is also evidence that the egg will be produced to be more receptive to the X or Y sperm under certain environmental factors.  This hasn't been shown in humans but in marsh turkeys.  Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference lol.

Pam
 

[buttercup]

I know this isnt as impressive as 9 sons before finally a girl!

But my grandmother had 5 boys hoping for a girl from child 2.
After the fifth boy, its been told she said thats it! If i cant have a girl then ill have no more boys!!

i look on the bright side, at least theres plenty to carry on the name! 

BC

[Keith Sherwood]

I've found the various accounts on this topic entertaining and extremely amusing in many cases.  I'm actually quite surprised that nobody has so far trumped the 9 consecutive sons - there's usually always someone out there who knows of some even greater statistic.
The strange thing is that although 9 male Sherwoods were born - the eldest, Albert, b.1878, a "milk boy", died at the age of 25 in 1903; poor Samson Sherwood went down with his ship "The Queen Mary", and about 1000 other men at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916 at the age of 21; and John Charles Sherwood, b. 1883 was my grand-father - but I have never come across any other descendants from the other six brothers, and I've really searched hard!
Keith

[nora T]

my next door neighbours, have 9 girls no boys, and there is  still time for more,  but 3 of the girls have had babies this year, all boys!  my granny, my dads mum, had 5  boys 1 girl, i also had 5 boys 1 girl,  god bless them every one, regards nora

[Keith Sherwood]

Nora, at last! A matching sequence of 9, and good that it's the daughters in the spotlight this time.  I hope they all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
Keith (Someone please tell me have to put these Father Xmas emoticons on my messages - everyone's managing it but me!)

[c w]

I cannot compete with 8 or 9  consequetive,  but I am always amazed that my brother has 3 boys and I have 4 girls.

c w

[nora T]

hi keith,thanks for the reply, and watch this space, it could be ten,or more they have still got time!and i also wish them , andyou a very happy christmas, and a peaceful new year, nora