Chapter 10: Ovulation and Fertilization

crossover

exchange of genetic material between paired chromosomes

polyspermia

having more than one sperm penetrate the vitelline membrane and deposit their nucleus with the oocyte

spermatogenesis

physiological process of growing and maturing of spermatozoa

fixed

no further increase in cell number

folliculogenesis

physiological process leading to growth and development of the follicle

oogonium

first form of egg cells, which contain two sets of chromosomes identical to other cells in the animals body

oocyte

female gamete

pronuclei

haploid structure containing the DNA of the oocyte and sperm prior to final fertilization

zygote

a single cell formed as the result of the fusion of an egg and sperm during fertilization

cleavage division

mitotic divisions of the early embryo inside the zona pellucida. each division resulting in two cells half the size of the cell it came from

totipotent

embryonic cells with the potential to become an part of the conceptus

embryo transfer

the process of superovulating and the retrieving embryos from a donor animal and transferring those embryos into recipient animals

conceptus

all products of conception, including all parts of the true embryo and its placenta

syngamy

the fusing of the pronuclei during fertilization

morula

an embryo with a solid ball of cells of equal size

oogenesis

physiological processes of growing and maturing of oocyte

differentiation

genetic assignment of function to a cell or group of cells

zona pellucida

protein structure surrounding the oocyte that serves as a barrier to fertilization