what are chromosomes? what happens to them during fertilization?

Answer 1

Basically, they are strands of DNA and protein. During fertilzation in humans, 23 chromosomes from your momma and 23 from your papa make an egg.

Answer 2

Chromosomes simply carry the information that carries the design for your body and how that body functions.

Humans have 23 (ok 24 really) different types of chromosomes, numbered from 1 -22 and number 23 are the sex chromosomes of which there are 2 types (X and Y, hence the 24 comment).

In a sperm or egg we have 23 chromosomes, 1 of every type ( eggs always carry the X chromosome regardless while 50% of sperm will have X and 50% will have Y's).
In fertilisation, the single set of 23 chromosomes from the egg, combine with the single set of 23 from the sperm to create a ZYGOTE ( a single cell.... the egg really...BUT it has 2 sets of chromosomes...or 46 chromosomes)...this zygote then divides ( by mitosis) to produce more and more cells (initially the same or stem cells, but later start to form all the parts of the body) to produce an embryo which of course continues into a baby and you eventually.

Our bodies need TWO copies of every chromosome to function properly, 1 set coming from your mother and the other from your father....the combination of chromosomes and the versions of genes you get determine how you will look and how your body functions at this point of fertilisation!

Answer 3

Chromosomes are the structures that contain the DNA for the cell.

During fertilization the chromosomes from the egg and the chromosomes from the sperm end up in the same cell -- the zygote. All the chromosomes together determine the nature of the developing embryo.

Answer 4

Chromosomes are 2 tightly coiled stands of DNA, i.e. two chromatids, both of which are identical to each other due to DNA undergoing replication, joined usually in the middle at the centromere.

A human has 23 pairs of chromosomes, 46 individual chromosomes. The pairs are arranged like 2 Xs, each X is similar in size and shape to its partner, except in boys where the 26th pair is XY (Y being an X with a section missing) compared to a girl's XX.

In fertilisation, a sperm and an egg combine to form a new cell. The sperm and egg both have half the number of chromosomes as a result of meiotic cell division - 23 chromsomes in each, i.e. haploids (a complete cell is a diploid). When they join, the chromsomes in the sperm match up with the opposite pairs in the egg to form the first cell (zygote) with 46 chromosomes, which undergoes mitotic division to produce a baby.

Answer 5

The zygote would have 1.5 or 2 times the chromosome number and would self destruct.

Answer 6

they are thread like structures containing genes and DNA, during fertilization they transfer traits such as eye color, skin color e.t.c from parent to offspring