Gametogenesis Flashcards
the male and female sex cells are known as what, generally and specifically?
Gametes
- sperm and oocyte
How many chromosomes do gametes contain? And what is this condition called?
23
haploid
what is the creation of sex cells called, generally and gender-specifically?
Gametogenesis
- spermiogenesis and oogenesis
The first meiotic division is known as what?
Why?
reduction division
because chromosome number is reduced from diploid (46) to haploid (23)
what two phases of which meiotic division result in a halving of the number of chromosomes in the resultant cells?
and how?
**prophase I **- pairing of homologous chromosomes
**anaphase I **- segregation of chromosome pairs created in prophase I
What is the process of the separation of allelic genes called during meiosis?
segregation
- prophase - pairing of homologous chromosomes
- anaphase - pulling apart of pairs
What is the condition of chromosomes after DNA replication?
double chromatid chromosomes
What exists at the start of meiosis II and what is produced as a result?
two haploid cells with double chromatid chromosomes formed during meiosis I become four haploid cells with single chromatid chromosomes
(via division of chromosomes into single chromatids and pulling apart of these “sister” chromatids)
What is the importance of meiosis?
3 points
- constancy of chromosome number - diploid cells become haploid gametes
- random genetic assortment - mixing of maternal and paternal chromosomes btwn gametes
- genetic recombination - chromosome crossover “shuffles” genetic material
What is the process of male sex cell maturation called?
When does it begin?
Spermatogenesis
begins at puberty (age 13 to 16)
What are the immature male sex cells which are dormant in the male until puberty?
Where are they dormant?
When did they come into existence and when are more of them created?
**Spermatogonia **(sing. spermatogonium)
- dormant in the seminiferous tubules since the fetal period but more are produced during puberty
What are the germ cells which are formed from spermatogonia?
How are they formed?
How does their size compare to other cells?
What is their chromosome number?
Primary Spermatocytes
are formed mitotically and are the **largest **germ cells in the seminiferous tubules
still 46 chromosomes (because only mitosis until now)
What cells are formed from primary spermatocytes?
Via what process?
What is their size, chromosome number and chromosomal gender (X or Y)?
secondary spermatocytes
- are formed via meiosis I and thus have 23 chromosomes
- are about half the size of primary spermatocytes
- one X and one Y form from each primary spermatocyte
What cells are formed from secondary spermatocytes?
Via what process?
What is their size, chromosome number and chromosomal gender?
spermatids
- formed via meiosis II
- half the size of secondary spermatocyte
- 23 chromosomes
- 2 X and 2 Y (formed from 1 X and 1 Y secondary spermatocyte, respectively)
What is the final process by which the four male haploid gametes created via meiosis finish maturing?
What major things occur during this?
spermiogenesis
(not spermatogenesis, which is the whole process from spermatogonium to mature sperm)
- spermatid elongates
- acrosome forms from Golgi region
- mitochondria arrange around middle piece of tail
- extra cytoplasm is shed