Development And Inheritance Flashcards
(164 cards)
What is Fertilization?
When the sperm and oocyte combine and their nuclei fuse
What is the cell made in fertilization called?
A zygote
What does a zygote consist of?
Half the genetic information from the mother and half from the father
How many sperm cells are needed for fertilization?
Hundreds of millions
What prevents sperm cells from reaching fertilization?
Acidity of vagina canal and thick cervical mucus (millions), phagocytic leukocytes (thousands)
How many sperm survive?
Thousands
How fast do the surviving sperm travel through the tubes?
30 - 120 minutes
How long can sperm survive in the tube?
3 - 5 days
When can intercourse lead to fertilization?
a few days before ovulation
How long does an oocyte last after ovulation?
24 hours
What is capacitation?
The membrane over the sperm head thins and allows the sperm to prepare for fertilization
What are the two layers of the oocyte?
Corona Radiata and Zona Pellucida
What layer of the oocyte does the sperm penetrate through?
Corona Radiata
What must the sperm bind to in the oocyte?
A receptor in the Zona Pellucida
What is the Acrosomal Reaction?
The enzyme filled cap of the sperm releases enzymes to penetrate the 2 layers of the oocyte
What does the sperm fuse to in the oocyte?
The plasma membrane of the oocyte
How many sperm cells does it take for the acrosomal reaction?
Hundreds of sperm to release enzymes
What happens to the sperm and oocyte after fertilization?
The oocyte plasma membrane depolarizes to prevent further penetration; protiens between layers shock excess sperm to be killed and released; oocyte receptors are destroyed
What forms after fertilization?
An impenetrable protein barrier forms called the fertilization membrane
What happens to the female zygote (oocyte) upon fertilization?
Meiosis is completed and the last polar body is ejected
Once the oocyte has complete meiosis it is called a ____ until the ___ intermingle.
Ovum, DNA
How are fraternal twins created?
1% of the time, 2 oocytes are released and fertilized at the same time
How are identical twins created?
When the female zygote (oocyte) splits
What is gestation?
The time it takes for full fetal development