During meiosis II, the secondary oocyte divides unevenly, with one cell (the ovum) receiving half of the chromosomes and nearly all the cytoplasm and organelles, while the other cell, the polar body, is much smaller and eventually degenerates. With your group, propose an explanation to explain why the secondary oocyte divides in this way.

Question

Shaylee Ingram

Biology

2 May, 08:17

During meiosis II, the secondary oocyte divides unevenly, with one cell (the ovum) receiving half of the chromosomes and nearly all the cytoplasm and organelles, while the other cell, the polar body, is much smaller and eventually degenerates. With your group, propose an explanation to explain why the secondary oocyte divides in this way.

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Benny · Answer 1

Oogenesis refers to the process of the formation of ovum cells from the oocyte. The oogenesis process involves the fusion of meiosis I and meiosis II. The oogenesis process begins even before the birth of a girl but is halted after meiosis I. The meiosis II forms the one functional ovum cell and one polar body.

This formation of unequal division is due to the reason that the polar body has to be degenerate while the ovum cell when formed will require the nutrition for the zygote as a result of which the receive more cytoplasm and organelles.