Why is fertilization of a polar body unlikely to lead to normal embryonic and fetal development?
A)The resulting zygote would be 4N instead of 2N.
B)The lack of cytoplasm would inhibit cellular reproduction.
C)The polar body has spent too long of a time trapped in meiosis I.
D)The resulting zygote would be smaller, which increases the risk for apoptosis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Polar bodies are haploid (1N) and, in theory, could be fertilized to form a zygote. However, because both mature sperm and polar bodies are almost completely deficient in cytoplasm and mitochondria, any fertilized polar body would not have the energy or the intracellular machinery to direct normal development.

Why Is Fertilization of a Polar Body Unlikely to Lead