Mr. Meherally begins :
(The earlier beliefs): "During the 18th century there were two prominent theories of heredity: ovist and preformationist views. Ovists believed that all traits were carried in the ovaries of the female, and that the male's sperm functioned only to stimulate embryonic development. As a result the mother was held responsible when she did not bear a male child. Preformationists believed that the male's sperm carried tiny, fully developed replicas of the infant and that the female's egg simply provided nourishment for the child before birth."
(The contemporary beliefs): "The combination of ovum and sperm make up a complete cell, containing 23 chromosomes from the sperm and 23 from the ovum. These chromosomes carry all the genetic information needed to determine all the inherited characteristics of the potential human being. Of the 23 pairs of chromosomes, one pair, called sex chromosomes, determine male or female sex. Male sperm cells carry either an X or a Y sex chromosome and 22 nonsex chromosomes, or autosomes. Ova carry only X chromosomes and 22 autosomes. If an X-carrying sperm cell unites with the ovum, the cell will develop into a female. If a Y-carrying sperm unites with the ovum, the cell will develop into a male. Future male or female body structures are thus determined at conception."
True, but is this what the Qur'an tells us?
"What, does man reckon he shall be left to roam at will? Was he not a sperm-drop spilled? Then he was a blood-clot, and He created and formed, and He made of him two kinds, male and female."
"Does Man think that he will be left uncontrolled (without purpose)? Was he not a drop of sperm emitted? Then did he become a leech-like clot; then did (Allah) make and fashion (him) in due proportion. And of him He made two sexes male and female." (Qur'an 75:36-39)
Comments: The use of phrase "sperm emitted or gushing forth",demonstrates that the reference is made specifically to "a drop of male sperm" that carries either X or Y sex chromosome, which determines the gender of a child at the conception.
First of all, at NO POINT in embryonic development are we a "clot of blood". This is clearly wrong no matter how brutally Muslim apologists twist the word al alaq (blood clot). Second, the Qur'an incorrectly says that semen originates between the loins and ribs: So let man consider from what he is created. He is created from a gushing fluid That issued from between the loins and ribs. (Sura 86:5-7)
Also, the Qur'an only mentions the male emission, which can be seen, but says nothing about the females egg which cannot be seen! I would be much more impressed if the Qur'an said that both gametes united to form a child. However, all the credit goes to the male's emission.
Muhammad expanded his little theory a bit further in Hadith Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 550:
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
So, after the embryo is formed, God determines the gender of the child?!?!? This "revelation" clearly does not conform to modern science!
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