Which of the following correctly describes a difference between the vegetal pole of a frog zygote and the animal pole?

Which of the following correctly describes a difference between the vegetal pole of a frog zygote and the animal pole?

The vegetal pole of a frog zygote is distinct from the animal pole in several key aspects:

• Cytoplasm Composition: The vegetal pole contains a larger proportion of yolk, a nutrient-rich substance that serves as a source of energy for early embryonic development. In contrast, the animal pole has a higher concentration of active cytoplasm, which is responsible for cell division and differentiation.

• Cell Division Rate: Cells in the vegetal pole divide more slowly than those in the animal pole. This difference in cell division rate contributes to the establishment of the dorsal-ventral axis of the embryo, with the animal pole forming the dorsal (back) side and the vegetal pole forming the ventral (belly) side.

• Pigmentation: In some frog species, such as Xenopus laevis, the animal pole is heavily pigmented, while the vegetal pole remains unpigmented. This pigmentation pattern is thought to play a role in establishing polarity and guiding early embryonic development.

• Fate: The vegetal pole gives rise to extraembryonic structures, such as the yolk sac and the gut tube, which support the developing embryo. The animal pole, on the other hand, forms the ectoderm and mesoderm, which eventually give rise to the skin, nervous system, muscles, and other tissues of the embryo.

These differences between the vegetal and animal poles of a frog zygote are crucial for establishing the basic body plan and initiating the intricate processes of early embryonic development.