Question

If a female is born with 6 million primary oocytes in each ovary, the maximum number of eggs that she can produce in her lifetime is 6 million.

(a) True

(b) False

I have been asked this question in exam.

My doubt stems from Human Reproduction in chapter Human Reproduction of Biology – Class 12

Answer 1

The correct answer is (a) True

The best I can explain: Oogenesis begins with a single diploid oogonium arresting at Prophase I resulting in a primary oocyte. Each primary oocyte finishes the first round of meiosis to form one secondary oocyte and the first polar body. The secondary oocyte then undergoes a second round of meiosis to create one egg and a second polar body. And no more primary oocytes are added during the lifetime of the female. Instead, most primary oocytes degenerate as the female attains puberty. This limits the number of eggs that can be produced to less than 6 million.