Fertilisation

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Fertilisation

Fertilisation (also spelled fertilization; /ˌfɜːrtɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən/) is the fusion of gametes to initiate the development of a new individual organism. The process involves the union of an ovum (egg cell) from a female and a sperm from a male, resulting in a zygote that develops into a new organism.

Etymology

The term "fertilisation" comes from the Latin fertilis, meaning "fruitful, productive", and the suffix -ation, denoting an action or process.

Process

Fertilisation occurs in several steps. The sperm must first penetrate the protective layer of the egg, known as the zona pellucida. Once the sperm has entered the egg, the nuclei of the two cells fuse to form a zygote, which begins to divide and grow into an embryo.

Related Terms

  • Gamete: A mature haploid male or female germ cell that is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote.
  • Ovum: A mature female reproductive cell, which can divide to give rise to an embryo usually only after fertilisation by a male cell.
  • Sperm: A male reproductive cell which is able to fertilise an ovum to form a zygote.
  • Zygote: The cell formed by the union of a sperm and an ovum; the earliest stage of an embryo.
  • Embryo: An unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development, especially an unborn human in the first eight weeks from conception.

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