Question Details

Phenomena that creates female gametes, oogenesis is ceased at prophase I up till puberty. This describes the DNA content of a female’s gametes during her childhood

Options

A

46 chromosomes, 92 chromatids

B

23 chromosomes, 23 chromatids

C

23 chromosomes, 46 chromatids

D

46 chromosomes, 46 chromatids

Correct Answer :

46 chromosomes, 92 chromatids

Solution :

The correct option is 46 chromosomes, 92 chromatids.

To understand why this is correct, we must analyze the state of the germ cells during a female’s childhood. Oogenesis begins during embryonic development. Primordial germ cells undergo mitosis to form oogonia, which then enter meiosis I and become primary oocytes.
During fetal development, these primary oocytes progress through meiosis I but are arrested (halted) at the diplotene stage of prophase I. They remain suspended in this state throughout childhood until puberty begins.

Before a cell enters meiosis, it undergoes DNA replication during the S phase of interphase. Prior to replication, each chromosome consists of a single chromatid. After replication, each chromosome consists of two identical sister chromatids joined at the centromere. Thus, even though the DNA content has doubled, the chromosome count remains the same. Each chromosome simply contains two chromatids.

A normal human somatic cell and a primary oocyte in prophase I are diploid (2n).
Therefore, the primary oocytes arrested in prophase I during childhood have:
Number of chromosomes = 2n=46 chromosomes.
Since DNA replication has already occurred and the chromosomes are in their duplicated form (each consisting of two sister chromatids), the total number of chromatids is:
46×2=92 chromatids.

Thus, during childhood, a female's gamete precursors (primary oocytes) contain 46 chromosomes and 92 chromatids.

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