Identify the CORRECT statement about CLEAVAGE in HUMAN ZYGOTE. Statement (I): Cleavage is holoblastic. Statement (II): First cleavage is meridional. Statement (III): Second cleavage is horizontal. Statement (IV): Third cleavage is horizontal. In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

Step-by-step solution

Cleavage in the human zygote is holoblastic because the egg is almost alecithal or microlecithal, meaning it contains very little yolk. Thus, Statement I is correct. The first cleavage division is meridional, passing through the animal-vegetal axis to form two blastomeres. Thus, Statement II is correct. Mammals exhibit rotational cleavage. During the second cleavage, one blastomere divides meridionally while the other divides equatorially. Therefore, stating the second cleavage is purely horizontal is incorrect. Th