REACHING THE AGE OF ADOLESCENCE

PART-2

REPRODUCTIVE PHASE IN HUMANS AND SEX DETERMINATION

QUESTION ANSWER DOCUMENT

1. When does the reproductive phase begin in boys and girls?

Adolescents become capable of reproduction when their testes and ovaries begin to

produce gametes.

2. What is the difference in the reproductive activity of male and female humans ?

The capacity for maturation and production of gametes lasts for a much longer time in
males than females. In male humans the reproductive activity is from puberty to 60 or

70 years. In female humans the reproductive activity is from puberty to 45 to 50 years.

3. What is menstruation? Explain.

In females, the ova or eggs begin to mature with the onset of puberty (10 to 12
years of age) one egg gets matured and is released by one of the ovaries once in
about 28 to 30 days. During this period, the wall of the uterus becomes thick so as to
receive the fertilized egg. In case it is fertilized, it begins to develop. This results in
pregnancy. If the fertilization fails to take place, the ovum or the released egg and
the thickened lining of the uterus along with its blood vessels are shed off. This
causes bleeding in women. This is called menstruation. It occurs once in 28 to 30
days.

4. What is menarche ?

The first menstrual flow is known as menarche.

5. What is menopause ?

Menopause is the stoppage of menstruation in women.

6. At which age does menopause take place ?

Menopause normally takes place between 45 to 50 years.

7. How many chromosomes are present in each cell of humans ?

23 pairs, i.e., 46.

8. How many chromosomes are present in the nucleus of a single sperm ?

23 chromosomes.

9.
How many chromosomes are present in the nucleus of a single egg ?

23 chromosomes.

10.
Do all the eggs carry similar chromosomes ?

Yes, all eggs carry X – chromosomes.

11.
Do all the sperms carry similar chromosomes ?:

No, sperms are of two kinds. One kind has an X- chromosome and the other kind
has a Y chromosome

12. What do you understand about X and Y chromosomes ?

X chromosomes stand for female characters and Y chromosomes for male

characters.

13. What will be the sex of the baby developing from XX zygote ?

Female baby.

14. What will be the sex of the baby developing from XY zygote ?

Male baby.
15. Write a note on Sex determination in the unborn baby

The sex of a child, i.e., whether it is a male or a female is determined at the time of
fertilisation when a male gametes fuse with a female gamete. All human beings have
23 pairs of chromosomes in the nuclei of their cells. Two chromosomes out of these
are sex chromosomes. A female has two X chromosomes, while a male has one X and
one Y chromosome. The gametes (egg and sperm) have only one set of
chromosomes. The unfertilised egg always has one X chromosome.

But sperms are of two kinds—One having an X chromosome, and the other having
Y chromosome. When a sperm containing X chromosome fertilises the egg, the
zygote would have two X chromosomes and develop into a female child. If the sperm
contributes a Y chromosome to the egg or ovum at fertilisation, the zygote would
develop into a male child. It is thus also clear that the sex chromosomes of the father
determine the sex of an unborn baby.

16. Show diagrammatically how the sex of the child is determined ?

17. Choose the correct option

A. Once a girl starts menstruating, her body needs more
(a) iron
(b) calcium
(c) Vitamin C
(d) Vitamin A
Answer:
(a)
B. One ovum is released in females once in every
(a) 28 days
(b) 38 days
(c) 18 days
 (d) 08 days
Answer:
(a)

C. Reproductive age in women starts when their

(a) menstruation starts.
(b) breasts start developing.
(c) body weight increases
(d) height increases
Answer:
(a)

18. Complete the following: