The division of a primary oocyte results in:a)Unequal cells: a smaller...
Understanding Oocyte Division
The division of a primary oocyte is a crucial process in female gametogenesis, known as oogenesis. This process involves meiosis, where a diploid primary oocyte undergoes reduction division to form haploid cells.
Key Points of Oocyte Division
- Primary Oocyte Characteristics:
- Primary oocytes are diploid (2n) and are arrested in prophase I of meiosis until puberty.
- Meiosis I Division:
- Upon maturation, the primary oocyte completes meiosis I, resulting in two cells:
- A larger haploid secondary oocyte (n)
- A smaller haploid polar body (n)
Why Option B is Correct
- Unequal Cytokinesis:
- During meiosis I, cytokinesis does not divide the cytoplasm equally.
- The secondary oocyte receives the majority of the cytoplasm, making it larger, while the polar body is much smaller and typically does not participate in further development.
- Haploid Nature:
- Both cells produced are haploid; however, the polar body is generally considered a means of discarding extra genetic material rather than contributing to fertilization or development.
Conclusion
Thus, the correct answer is option B: "Unequal cells: a larger haploid secondary oocyte and a smaller haploid polar body," highlighting the asymmetrical division that occurs during meiosis in oogenesis. This mechanism ensures that the secondary oocyte is well-equipped for potential fertilization, while the polar body typically degenerates.
The division of a primary oocyte results in:a)Unequal cells: a smaller...
The process you're asking about occurs during oogenesis, which is the formation of egg cells (ova) in females. Here's how it works:
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Primary Oocyte: The primary oocyte is a diploid cell, meaning it has two sets of chromosomes (2n). This cell begins the first meiotic division.
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First Meiotic Division: During the first meiotic division, the primary oocyte divides unevenly. This asymmetrical division results in two cells:
- Secondary Oocyte: This is the larger cell, and it contains most of the cytoplasm from the original primary oocyte. It is haploid, meaning it has only one set of chromosomes (n).
- First Polar Body: This is the smaller cell, which also has a haploid set of chromosomes (n) but very little cytoplasm. The polar body is generally considered non-functional and may eventually degenerate.
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Reason for Unequal Division: The unequal division ensures that the secondary oocyte retains enough cytoplasm and organelles to support early development if fertilization occurs. The polar body, being smaller and less resourced, is a byproduct of this process.
If fertilization occurs, the secondary oocyte will undergo a second meiotic division to form the mature ovum and another polar body. However, only one functional egg cell is produced from the original primary oocyte.
This process ensures that the resulting egg has enough nutrients and cellular machinery to support the early stages of embryonic development.
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