Ch. 27 Reproduction and Embryonic Development

Taylor - Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections 10th Edition

Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook

Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th Edition

Ch. 27 Reproduction and Embryonic Development

Problem 12

Chapter 27, Problem 12

How does a zygote differ from a mature egg?
a. A zygote has more chromosomes.
b. A zygote is smaller.
c. A zygote consists of more than one cell.
d. A zygote divides by meiosis.

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the definitions: A zygote is the single-celled organism formed after the fusion of a sperm and an egg during fertilization. A mature egg, or ovum, is the unfertilized female gamete that contains half the genetic material (haploid) needed for reproduction.

Compare chromosome numbers: A mature egg is haploid, meaning it contains half the number of chromosomes (n). After fertilization, the zygote becomes diploid, containing a full set of chromosomes (2n). This is a key difference between the two.

Analyze cell size: A zygote is typically larger than a mature egg because it contains the combined genetic material from both parents and additional cytoplasmic components from the egg.

Evaluate cell structure: A zygote is a single cell, not multicellular. It undergoes mitotic divisions to form a multicellular organism, but initially, it is just one cell.

Understand division type: A zygote divides by mitosis, not meiosis. Mitosis allows the zygote to grow and develop into a multicellular organism, while meiosis is the process that produces gametes (sperm and eggs).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Zygote Formation

A zygote is the initial cell formed when a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell. It contains a complete set of chromosomes, half from each parent, and marks the beginning of a new organism's development. This single-cell stage undergoes rapid division and differentiation to form a multicellular embryo.

Chromosome Number

The chromosome number is crucial in distinguishing between a zygote and a mature egg. A mature egg, or ovum, is haploid, containing only one set of chromosomes (23 in humans), while a zygote is diploid, having two sets (46 in humans) after fertilization. This difference is fundamental to understanding genetic inheritance.

Cell Division Types

Zygotes undergo mitosis, not meiosis, as they develop into multicellular organisms. Mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, while meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that produces gametes (sperm and eggs) with half the chromosome number. This distinction is essential for understanding reproductive biology.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Match each function with the correct structure.

2. Turns into the corpus luteum

3. Female gonad

4. Site of spermatogenesis

5. Site of fertilization in humans

6. Site of human gestation

7. Sperm duct

8. Secretes seminal fluid

9. Lining of uterus

a. vas deferens

b. prostate gland

c. endometrium

d. testis

e. follicle

f. uterus

g. ovary

h. oviduct

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Textbook Question

After a sperm penetrates an egg, it is important that the vitelline layer separate from the egg so that it can

a. Secrete important hormones.

b. Enable the fertilized egg to implant in the uterus.

c. Prevent more than one sperm from entering the egg.

d. Attract additional sperm to the egg.

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Textbook Question

In an experiment, a researcher colored a bit of tissue on the outside of a frog gastrula with an orange fluorescent dye. The embryo developed normally. When the tadpole was placed under an ultraviolet light, which of the following glowed bright orange? (Explain your answer.)

a. The heart

b. The pancreas

c. The brain

d. The stomach

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Textbook Question

A woman had several miscarriages. Her doctor suspected that a hormonal insufficiency was causing the lining of the uterus to break down, as it does during menstruation, terminating her pregnancies. Treatment with which of the following might help her remain pregnant?

a. Oxytocin

b. Follicle-stimulating hormone

c. Luteinizing hormone

d. Prolactin

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Textbook Question

The embryos of reptiles (including birds) and mammals have systems of extraembryonic membranes. What are the functions of these membranes, and how do fish and frog embryos survive without them?

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Textbook Question

Compare sperm formation with egg formation. In what ways are the processes similar? In what ways are they different?