How many chromosomes does the primary oocyte have?

Answer:
92
In women, gametogenesis begins in fetal life, but is arrested in prophase of meiosis I for years until just before ovulation. This arrested oocyte is called the "primary oocyte". The human genome consists of 23 chromosomes, and normal somatic cells in humans have two of each chromosome (2N) in the resting state. Since the DNA in the primary oocyte has already replicated and but hasn't undergone division yet, the cell contains double the number of chromosomes of the original cell. Therefore the primary oocyte has 92 chromosomes (4N).

Keep in mind though, that just before ovulation, the cell will complete meisois I and be released as 2N (the other 2N is split off as the 1st polar body). This released cell (secondary oocyte) which is now 2N is arrested in metaphase of meiosis II until fertilized, where it will release a second polar body (which now only has 1N). The fertilized egg therefore has two copies of chromosomes, 23 from mother (from the original 92 you started out with), and 23 from the sperm.
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First answer by Anatomy James. Last edit by Coolguy3000. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 6 [recommend question].