Question

Cleavage is a succession of rapid cell divisions that follows fertilization. During cleavage

• A. Number of cells increases and size of cells decreases
• B. Number of cells increases and embryo enlarges
• C. Number of cells decreases and embryo does not enlarge
• D. Number of cells neither increases nor decreases but forms blasmtomers

Answer 1

The correct option is A Number of cells increases and size of cells decreases

Cleavage is a process of rapid mitotic divisions of the zygote which forms the single-celled zygote into a multicellular structure called blastula or blastocyst. Cell growth does not take place hence, the number of cells increases but their size decreases and hence no enlargement of the embryo is observed.

So the correct option is 'Number of cells increases and size of cells decreases'.