Question

In a healthy male, how many sperm cells would be expected to be formed from (a) 400 primary spermatocytes? (b) 400 secondary spermatocytes?

1) (a) 800 (b) 800
2) (a) 1600 (b) 1600
3) (a) 1600 (b) 800
4) (a) 400 (b) 400
5) (a) 100 (b) 800

Answer 1

From 400 primary spermatocytes, 1600 sperm cells are produced through spermatogenesis, and from 400 secondary spermatocytes, 800 sperm cells result. Therefore, the answer is 1600 for primary spermatocytes and 800 for secondary spermatocytes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process in question is spermatogenesis, which is the production of sperm in males. Spermatogenesis begins with spermatogonia that undergo mitosis to produce two diploid primary spermatocytes. Each primary spermatocyte then undergoes meiosis I to form two haploid secondary spermatocytes. Subsequently, each secondary spermatocyte undergoes meiosis II to generate a total of four spermatids. Finally, these spermatids undergo spermiogenesis to become mature spermatozoa.

Given that each primary spermatocyte produces four sperm cells, the answer to part (a) would be that 400 primary spermatocytes would produce 400 x 4 = 1600 sperm cells. For part (b), since each secondary spermatocyte ultimately leads to two sperm cells, 400 secondary spermatocytes would produce 400 x 2 = 800 sperm cells.

Therefore, the final answer in two line explanation in 300 words for (a) 400 primary spermatocytes is 1600 sperm cells, and for (b) 400 secondary spermatocytes is 800 sperm cells, making option 3) correct.