Question

In Plasmodium, which causes malaria, fertilization of gametocytes takes place in ____.

• A. liver cells of man
• B. erythrocytes of man
• C. gut of a female Anopheles mosquito
• D. salivary glands of a female Anopheles mosquito

Hint:

The sexual phase of Plasmodium takes place in the mosquito, not in humans.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept
The malarial parasite Plasmodium has two hosts. It multiplies asexually in humans and reproduces sexually in the female Anopheles mosquito.

Step 2: Gametocytes
A female Anopheles mosquito sucks the gametocytes from the red blood cells of a malaria patient.

Step 3: Fertilisation
In the mosquito's gut the gametocytes form gametes, which fuse to give a zygote. The zygote later forms sporozoites that move to the salivary glands.

Step 4: Why the other options fail
Liver cells and erythrocytes are sites of asexual multiplication, and the salivary glands only store sporozoites.

Final Answer:
Fertilisation of gametocytes takes place in the gut of a female Anopheles mosquito. \[ \boxed{\text{(C) }\text{gut of a female }\textit{Anopheles}\text{ mosquito}} \]