In trisomy 21, most nondisjunction events take place during female meiosis rather than male meiosis. What might be one factor that can account for this difference?
A) Female meiosis is more difficult than male because the gamete is much larger
B) Female meiosis takes place in a very short time
C) Male meiosis takes place over a longer period of time
D) Female meiosis takes place over a long time period
A) Female meiosis is more difficult than male because the gamete is much larger.
To determine which factor might account for the difference in nondisjunction events during female meiosis compared to male meiosis in trisomy 21, we can consider the options provided.
A) Female meiosis is more difficult than male because the gamete is much larger: This statement suggests that the larger size of the female gamete could contribute to a higher likelihood of nondisjunction events. However, the size of the gamete alone does not necessarily cause higher rates of nondisjunction.
B) Female meiosis takes place in a very short time: This statement implies that the limited time period for female meiosis could be a contributing factor. If the process is rushed, errors might be more likely to occur, leading to a higher incidence of nondisjunction. However, this option is not accurate because female meiosis actually takes an extended period of time, especially compared to male meiosis.
C) Male meiosis takes place over a longer period of time: This statement suggests that the extended duration of male meiosis could decrease the likelihood of nondisjunction events compared to female meiosis. If there is more time available for the process, it may reduce the occurrence of errors. This is a plausible factor that could contribute to the difference.
D) Female meiosis takes place over a long time period: This statement emphasizes the extended duration of female meiosis. This aligns with the actual process of female meiosis, which spans a longer period compared to male meiosis. The extra time involved may increase the chances of mistakes occurring during the process, leading to a higher frequency of nondisjunction events.
Based on the given options, the factor that could account for the difference in nondisjunction events between female and male meiosis in trisomy 21 is option D) Female meiosis takes place over a long time period.