Which process allows a zygote to develop into an embryo and eventually a foetus?

Prepare for the IGCSE Biology test on human reproduction. Study with comprehensive flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each including hints and explanations. Excel in your exam!

The correct process that allows a zygote to develop into an embryo and eventually a fetus is mitosis. After fertilization occurs, the zygote undergoes a series of mitotic divisions. Mitosis is a type of cell division that produces two genetically identical daughter cells from a single parent cell. This continuous division and replication enable the rapid increase in cell number, leading to the development of the embryo.

During this early stage, the cells produced are referred to as blastomeres, which will later organize into different structures that will form the tissues and organs of the organism. As these cells divide, they also begin to differentiate, which means they start to take on specific roles and types depending on where they are located in the embryo, contributing to the formation of various body systems.

While fertilization is necessary to create the zygote, it is the process of mitosis that drives the subsequent growth and formation of the embryo and fetus. Meiosis, on the other hand, is involved in producing gametes (sperm and eggs) and does not play a direct role in the development of the zygote after fertilization. Cell differentiation, although crucial for the formation of specific cell types, follows mitosis in the developmental process and

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