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Question:

How is the equal genetic contribution of male and female parents ensured in the progeny?

Solution:

Equal genetic contribution of male and female parents in the progeny is ensured by the equal inheritance of chromosomes from each parent. Human possesses 23 pairs of chromosomes, of which 22 pairs are autosomes and 1 pair is the sex chromosomes. The two sex chromosomes in human are X and Y. Females have 2 X chromosomes and males have an X and Y chromosome. During the process of fertilization, a haploid sperm fuses with a haploid ovum to produce a diploid zygote. The zygote receives an equal amount of genetic material from each parent and thus, retains the diploid nature on fertilization.