What is the chromosome number in a human ovum?a)46b)23c)48 d)None of t...
The correct answer is 23.
Key Points
- The human egg, or ovum, is one of the largest cells in the human body.
- Karl Ernst von Baer discovered the mammalian ovum in 1827.
- After ovulation, the egg lives for 12 to 24 hours and must be fertilized in that time.
- An egg cell is a metabolically active cell, substances are absorbed and released.
- Humans are diploid (2n) organisms having 46 or 23 pairs of chromosomes.
- The gametes, sperm and ovum, are haploid (n) as they are formed by meiosis.
- This means the gametes will have only one of each pair of chromosomes.
- Therefore, chromosome number in the human ovum is 23.
What is the chromosome number in a human ovum?a)46b)23c)48 d)None of t...
Chromosome Number in a Human Ovum
The human ovum or egg cell is a haploid cell, which means it contains only one set of chromosomes instead of two sets like other human cells. The chromosome number in a human ovum is 23.
Explanation:
- Haploid Cell: A haploid cell is a cell that contains only one set of chromosomes. In humans, haploid cells are the sex cells, i.e. the egg cells in females and the sperm cells in males.
- Chromosome Number: The chromosome number refers to the number of chromosomes present in a cell. In humans, most cells contain 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs. However, the sex cells contain only 23 chromosomes, which is half the number of chromosomes in a typical human cell.
- Human Ovum: The human ovum is the female reproductive cell or egg cell. It is produced in the ovaries and released during ovulation. The ovum is a haploid cell, which means it contains only one set of chromosomes. In humans, the ovum contains 23 chromosomes, including one X chromosome.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the chromosome number in a human ovum is 23. This is because the ovum is a haploid cell, containing only one set of chromosomes, which is half the number of chromosomes in a typical human cell. Understanding the chromosome number in human cells is important in fields such as genetics, reproductive biology, and medicine.