In the life cycle of Plasmodium, sexual stages (gametocytes) begin to develop in

Options

A. Stomach of mosquito
B. Intestine of man
C. Liver of man
D. Red blood cells of man

Explanation

To answer the question "In the life cycle of Plasmodium, sexual stages (gametocytes) begin to develop in," we need to analyze the life cycle of the Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the solution:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Hosts**: Plasmodium has two hosts in its life cycle: the human host and the female Anopheles mosquito.

2. **Entry into Human Host**: The Plasmodium sporozoite enters the human body through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.

3. **Initial Development in Human**: After entering the bloodstream, the sporozoites travel to the liver where they undergo asexual reproduction and develop into different stages, including the micrometacryptozoid stage.

4. **Erythrocytic Cycle**: The Plasmodium then enters the red blood cells (RBCs) and undergoes several cycles of multiplication, leading to the formation of trophozoites and eventually schizonts.

5. **Formation of Gametocytes**: After several erythrocytic cycles, the parasite stops dividing and begins to form the sexual stages known as gametocytes. These include microgametocytes (male) and macrogametocytes (female).

6. **Transmission to Mosquito**: When a female Anopheles mosquito bites an infected human, it ingests these gametocytes along with the blood.

7. **Development in Mosquito**: Inside the mosquito, the microgametocyte develops into male gametes and the macrogametocyte develops into female gametes. Fertilization occurs in the stomach (gut) of the mosquito, leading to the formation of a zygote.

8. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the sexual stages (gametocytes) of Plasmodium begin to develop in the stomach of the mosquito, not in the human host.

### Final Answer:
**The sexual stages (gametocytes) begin to develop in the stomach of the mosquito.**

---