Sexual Reproduction in Mammals Flashcards
What are gametes?
Cells with half the usual chromosome number
Haploid cells
What is fertilisation?
The fusion of two gamete nuclei to make a zygote nuclei
What is a zygote?
The cell formed from the fusion of two gamete nuclei
What is sex?
Has a genetic basis which depends on the activation of the SRY chromosome - activated means male, inactive means female
What is gametogenesis?
The production of gametes
What are the gonads?
An animal organ where gametes are produced
What are the female gonads?
Ovaries
What are the male gonads?
Testes
What are the female gametes?
Ova
What are the male gametes?
Spermatazoa
What is the germinal epithelium?
The layer of cells that undergoes regular mitosis
Where is the germinal epithelium in females?
Outer layer of the ovaries
Where is the germinal epithelium in males?
Seminiferous tube
Explain spermatogenesis
Germinal epithelium in seminiferous tube divide by mitosis to form spermatagonium
Grow into primary spermatocytes
Divide by meiosis I to form secondary spermatocyte
Divide by meiosis II to form spermatids
Spermatids mature into spermatazoa
Are primary spermatocytes 2n or n?
2n
Are secondary spermatocytes 2n or n?
n
Are spermatids 2n or n?
n
When does spermatagonium occur?
After puberty, producing millions of sperm cells every day throughout adult life
What is a Graafian follicle?
A fluid filled sac formed from follicle of cells around the nucleus
How often does ovulation occur?
Every 28 days