Human Anatomy & Physiology (9th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321743261
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-326-8

Chapter 28 - Pregnancy and Human Development - Review Questions - Critical Thinking and Clinical Application Questions - Page 1094: 5

Answer

Meiosis results in the formation of four polar bodies. A second polar body has half of the number of chromosomes of a secondary oocyte. It helps the ovum achieve the haploid status by taking half of the diploid secondary oocyte's chromosomes. However, the ovum keeps almost all of the cytoplasm with the cytoplasmic organelles. The polar body is little more than plasma membrane and a haploid nucleus.

Work Step by Step

Normally, the polar bodies die by apoptosis. They lack adequate amounts of stored nutrients, and they do not have the cytoplasmic organelles to carry out normal cellular metabolism. If a polar body were fertilized, the dipold product formed would not survive because of the unavailability of nutrients to support embryonic development ( embryogenesis).
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