Question

How many sperms will be produced from 100 primary spermatocytes and how many eggs will be produced from 100 primary oocytes?

Answer 1

Spermatogenesis:

1. Spermatogenesis is the process of production of male gametes from the spermatogonium (proliferative cells that give rise to sperm cells).
2. Spermatogenesis occurs via the process of meiotic cell division (reductional cell division), it undergoes meiotic divisions to produce four spermatids.
3. A primary spermatocyte is divided to produce two secondary spermatocytes.
4. A secondary spermatocyte undergoes second meiotic division to give rise to two spermatid cells.
5. Hence, 100 primary spermatocytes will produce 800 spermatids, which will mature into 400 sperm.

Oogenesis:

1. Oogenesis is the process of production of an ovum from oogonium.
2. The oogonium (immature female sex cell) is produced from the primordial germ cell.
3. The oocyte is produced via meiotic division.
4. The primary oocyte divides to give rise to a secondary oocyte which further undergoes secondary meiotic division to produce a mature oocyte.
5. The first polar body produced further divides to give two more polar bodies.
6. The first and second polar bodies produced during the meiotic divisions are eliminated producing a haploid ovum in the end.
7. Hence, 100 primary oocytes will produce 100 eggs.