Frog oocytes contain enormous numbers of cellular components such as ribosomes. Briefly explain how the oocyte precursor manages to transcribe enough rRNAs to assemble 100,000 times more ribosomes than normal in the relatively short time period of oocyte maturation.
Briefly describe the process of meroistic oogenesis, which is often observed in insects, and explain how this differs from oogenesis in most vertebrates. Compare (explain the similarities and differences between) spermatogenesis and meroistic oogenesis.
How does chromatin in sperm differ from that in sperm precursor cells? How is/are these difference(s) achieved? What's the presumed purpose of modifying the chromatin during sperm maturation?
Mammalian oocytes are arrested in prophase of meiosis I for most of their differentiation. What is the advantage to this, as opposed to completing meiosis before beginning differentiation? How is this meiotic block released? Do the oocyte precursors go on to complete meiosis once the block is released?
Sperm precursors are connected by cytoplasmic bridges during the mitotic and meiotic divisions that precede differentiation, and remain connected throughout differentiation until they are released as mature sperm. What is/are the apparent advantages to having sperm precursors differentiate connected together in a syncytium?