Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam with our quiz. Study using multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready for success!

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What will be the sex of the offspring if the sperm carries a Y chromosome?

Male (XY)
Female (XX)
Intersex
Neither

The correct answer is: Male (XY)

The offspring will be male if the sperm carries a Y chromosome because the sex of an offspring is determined by the combination of sex chromosomes contributed by both the sperm and the egg. Typically, human females have two X chromosomes (XX), while males possess one X and one Y chromosome (XY). When a sperm that carries a Y chromosome fertilizes an egg (which always provides an X chromosome), the resulting combination is XY, which designates a male offspring. Therefore, the presence of a Y chromosome in the sperm is crucial as it determines the male sex of the child. The other possibilities are ruled out based on the genetic contributions from the egg and sperm; a female offspring results from an XX combination, intersex conditions arise from atypical chromosomal combinations, and "neither" doesn't apply in this context since offspring will develop into one of the typical sex categories based on the chromosomes present.