question_answer 11)

How is the equal genetic contribution of male and female parents ensured in the progeny?

Answer:

A zygote is formed by the fusion of sperm and ova. During the formation of gametes as a result of reductional division (meiosis), sperms and eggs receive only half of the genetic material of parent cell and thus become haploid. When fertilization occurs, sperm and egg forms zygote which is diploid (2n). In this way, both male and female parents contribute exactly equal amount of genetic material to the offspring.