We take for granted the simplicity of procreation. Sperm + egg = baby. Sure there are superfluous operations often wedged within the greater formula, generally including + alcohol, – inhibition, or / legs (and in my case so many nights spent as the remainder), but there are three sex laws we have always been certain of, right? 1) Spermatozoon hunts for ovum, 2) ovum receives spermatozoon, and 3) sex leans toward brevity, both in the bedroom and in the dictionary (before shortening further to “sperm,” “spermatozoon” had seven additional syllables and drove a NYC taxi).
But procreation, like math, isn't so simple. How was sperm discovered? What did scientists think the role of sperm was in procreation? Did people really believe that women were little more than semen food?
These questions and more are explored in this short essay from Caleb J. Ross, author of numerous books and short stories. Join Caleb as he uncovers interesting facts about the most basic of animal instincts: boning.
Printed length: about 5 pages
