A topological approach to quark fractional charges, based on chargeconstraints unexplained by the Standard Model of particle physics, isdiscussed. Charge fractionalization is related to a tunneling process occurringin time between pure gauge field configurations at the far past and futureassociated with integer-charged bare quarks, named prequarks. This transitionconforms to a topologically nontrivial configuration of the weak gauge fieldsin Euclidean space-time. In this context, an electroweak $Z_{2}$ symmetrybetween bare quarks and leptons, named presymmetry, is revealed. It is shownthat an effective topological charge equal to the ratio between baryon numberand the number of fermion generations may be associated with baryonic matter.The observed conservation of baryon number is then connected with theconservation of this charge on quarks. Similar results are obtained for leptonsin the dual scenario with local quark charges.
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