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Nineteen Babies Born in a Row Were Boys

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by InTheLight, Nov 27, 2012.

  1. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    The University of Minnesota Medical Center assisted in the birth of nineteen consecutive births of baby boys.

    Assuming that each birth has a 50-50 chance of producing a boy, the probability of a streak like this is one in 524,288.

    http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/180936741.html
     
  2. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    So this is some kind of special miracle from God?

    NO! It is how statistics and probabality "work."

    First, one must define the set or system under consideration. If the set consists of all the babies born to date at this hospital, then the odds of another run of 19 male births may be 524,288 to one. If the set is THIS 19 births, then the odds were 100% because it DID happen.

    Statistics only apply to past events. Probability only applies to future events. If an event happend, then it happened. That's we can say about that specific event.

    Futher, in the real world, the 50/50 odds does not apply. More males are born during times of war and more females in times of peace. Over all, slightly more males are born.

    In other words, statistics only applies to groups and never to individual members of the group. For example, say the IP was about crime rates or intelligence. Say 25 years from now all 19 of these males were in prison. Would this also be a miracle from God? Say the 19 were black males born to single mothers and raised on welfare. Would this be a miracle from God? Say the 19 black males all had engineering degrees and were making over 100k/year. Would this be a miracle from God?
     
  3. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Slow down, Bill. :laugh:

    Neither IntheLight nor the article he presented were claiming a special miracle of God.

    The OP merely commented on the randomness of the stats and the article said it was just a random chance.

    I think it was interesting.
     
  4. Nevada

    Nevada New Member

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    I once read that Jews were slightly more likely to have male babies. As in 51% versus 49%, whereas gentiles were 50/50. Those numbers are approximate.

    just a factoid
     
  5. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    Wonder if there were any female babies aborted to produce this coincidence.
     
  6. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    Scarlett O: No, but it was a good excuse for a rant. <G>
     
  7. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Personally, I think a healthy rant is good for reducing stress.
     
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