Question Details

Typically, in humans, gametes are disease-free or even in other animals as

Options

A

gametes are immune to diseases

B

germplasm is segregated easily and not subjected to diseases from which somatic cells may suffer

C

germs cannot attack gametes

D

None of the above

Correct Answer :

germplasm is segregated easily and not subjected to diseases from which somatic cells may suffer

Solution :

The correct option is: germplasm is segregated easily and not subjected to diseases from which somatic cells may suffer.

To understand why this is correct, we can look at the biological organization of multicellular organisms, which is characterized by a clear division of labor between two distinct cell lineages:
1. Somatic cells: These cells form the body of the organism (such as organs, muscles, and skin). They perform daily metabolic functions and are directly exposed to environmental factors, pathogens, toxins, and aging, making them susceptible to various diseases and acquired defects.
2. Germ cells (Germplasm): These are the specialized cells dedicated to reproduction, which undergo meiosis to produce gametes (sperm and eggs).

According to Weismann's germplasm theory, the germline is segregated (isolated) from the somatic cell lines very early during embryonic development. Because of this early developmental segregation, the germplasm is protected from the physiological stress, somatic mutations, and infectious diseases that somatic tissues undergo during an organism's lifetime. This evolutionary mechanism ensures that genetic information is transmitted to the offspring through disease-free gametes, unaffected by the acquired conditions of the parent's body.

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