Polyspermy, or fertilization by more than one sperm, is dangerous because it would create a zygote with how many sets of chromosomes?
ATwo (diploid, normal)
BOne (haploid)
CFour (tetraploid)
DThree (triploid)
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Three (triploid)
1. A normal zygote is diploid, receiving one haploid chromosome set from each parent's single gamete.
2. If two sperm fertilized the same oocyte instead of one, an extra haploid set would be added.
3. This would create a triploid organism with three chromosome sets.
4. Two (diploid, normal) and One (haploid) are both different figures a reader might guess from memory, but neither matches the specific figure given here.
5. Four (tetraploid) is also incorrect for the same reason: it does not match the specific figure given here.
6. It explicitly states this triploid condition is incompatible with life, which is why the oocyte has fast and slow blocks against polyspermy.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 28 "Development and Inheritance", p.1321 §Contact Between Sperm and Oocyte_
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