Why would an increased level of calcium ions be observed in a newly fertilized sea urchin egg?
A)Calcium facilitates the binding of bindin to the bindin receptor.
B)Increased calcium allows the sperm and egg nuclei to join efficiently,resulting in the formation of a zygote nucleus.
C)Calcium promotes release of proteases from the egg,which digest the egg-cell receptor and prevent polyspermy.
D)Calcium promotes an influx of water that results in a fertilization envelope.
E)Answers C and D

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Calcium ions have multiple roles in sea urchin fertilization. In addition to promoting the influx of water, which results in the formation of a fertilization envelope, calcium also promotes the release of proteases from the egg. These proteases digest the egg-cell receptor and prevent polyspermy, which is the fertilization by more than one sperm. Therefore, an increased level of calcium ions would be observed in a newly fertilized sea urchin egg to facilitate these processes.

Why Would an Increased Level of Calcium Ions Be Observed