A seven yearlong study conducted on 21,000 babies
worldwide says seasons do affect the babies significantly. The study, led by scientists at Harvard, shows
that babies born in winter and spring are taller, weigh more, and are more
intelligent. The study also shows that
babies born in the fall are more likely to live longer and are less prone to
illness at older ages. The season of
birth can also influence whether a person is an optimist or pessimist. Summer's babies that have a brighter outlook
than winter-born grumblers. Scientists
don’t know exactly why these differences occur, but they believe it may be due
to exposure to changing seasonal factors such as temperature, rainfall and
ultraviolet radiation may be responsible.
I don’t believe that seasons are the only thing that affects the baby’s
characteristics; genes must take an important role in determining its
characteristics. What do you think
affects a baby’s characteristics?
NOS Theme(s):
1. Science
is subject to debate and tentative
2. Importance
of repeatability
3. Science
is collaborative
Here's an article on the same thing: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1335977/Summer-babies-sunnier-outlook-Season-birth-affect-body-clock-scientists-find.html
ReplyDeleteThis one has an experiment done on mice that finds that those born in winter have a harder time coping to changes. It's speculated that being born in the winter makes for a higher risk of food allergies, as well.
I'm a winter baby and I'm so short, I don't know why that didn't apply to me.
ReplyDeleteI think genes, mother's eating habits during pregnancy, the environment the mother is in during pregnancy and the kid's childhood all affect how a baby turns out in the end.
I wonder whether seasonal depression of the mother could also be a factor. The mother and baby are linked in ways that we still don't completely understand, and it's possible that it might pass to the baby.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195
I am a fall baby, and I sure hope I'm less likely to get ill as I'm older. I find it so interesting that someone went through and documented the lives of 21,000 babies! Thats incredible! I actually looked at a similar article when trying to decide which to write about, this topic is so interesting!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101205202510.htm
I think there is also a role of curiosity because the scientists wanted to know about babies and if the season that they were born in affected what they were like.
ReplyDelete