NEETZoologyHuman Reproduction
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Unlike spermatogenesis, oogenesis is a discontinuous process characterized by long periods of meiotic arrest. Reason (R): In human females, primary oocytes formed during fetal life remain arrested in prophase-I and complete the first meiotic division only starting from puberty, while the secondary
Options
- ABoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- BBoth (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- C(A) is true but (R) is false
- D(A) is false but (R) is true
Correct answer
A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Step-by-step solution
Assertion (A) is correct because oogenesis is indeed a discontinuous process with prolonged meiotic arrests, unlike spermatogenesis which is a continuous process beginning at puberty. Reason (R) is correct and provides the exact mechanism for this discontinuity: primary oocytes arrest in prophase-I during fetal life and only resume meiosis starting at puberty, and the resulting secondary oocytes arrest in metaphase-II, completing meiosis only if fertilization occurs. Thus, Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A