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Pregnancy Forum > Pregnancy Forum > Determining the color of the skin during pregnancy
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Q: Determining the color of the skin during pregnancy
asked by: DoctorQuestion on June 4th, 2009
I have a pretty ridiculous question but I guess I need piece of mind. I was two and a half months pregnant when I had unprotected sex with a black guy. Is it possible that when I give birth the baby comes out black? I really do not think so because I believe that the genes and dna is determined at the time of conception. Can you please confirm this?

Thank you


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Dr. Goce Aleksovski , MD
replied on June 8th, 2009
Pregnancy Answer A6737


The level of pigment production in the skin that would determine the color of the skin is determined by the genes. The genes originate from the DNA found in the spermatozoids from the father and in the egg from the mother. The combination would determine whether the baby would have the color of the skin from the mother or from the father if they have different skin color.


However, once the conception has occurred, no additional genes can be added to the embryo. Certain of them might be lost in case certain genetic anomalies happen.


As for your case, the color of the skin of your baby cannot be determined by the genes that entered with the spermatozoids from the partner you had intercourse with when you were two and half months pregnant.




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