Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Secondary Integrated Science Practice test

How many viable eggs are produced after meiosis?

1. One

2. Two

3. Three

4. Four

The correct answer is: One

After meiosis, typically one viable egg is produced in a process known as oogenesis, which occurs in females. During meiosis, a single germ cell undergoes two rounds of division. The first division results in two cells, but only one of those will continue on to the second division; the other typically degenerates. The second division once again produces two cells. In total, this leads to the formation of a single viable egg and three polar bodies, which are smaller cells that usually do not develop into functional eggs. This process ensures that the resulting egg cell has the maximum cytoplasmic resources needed for potential fertilization and development, as the resources are concentrated in one egg rather than being divided among several. Understanding this process is crucial for examining reproductive biology and the differences in gamete production between males and females, where males produce four viable sperm cells from a single germ cell during spermatogenesis, while females have a more conservative approach, investing resources primarily in the formation of one high-quality egg.