Sexual Reproduction in Animals

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to sexual reproduction in animals, focusing on gametogenesis, fertilization, and post-fertilization processes.

Asexual Reproduction

A mode of reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes and often involves a single parent.

Sexual Reproduction

The process that involves male and female parents producing offspring through the fusion of gametes.

Gametogenesis

The process of formation of male and female gametes.

Spermatogenesis

The formation of sperm cells in males.

Oogenesis

The formation of egg cells in females.

Fertilization

The union of male and female sex cells.

External Fertilization

Fertilization that occurs outside the female reproductive tract.

Internal Fertilization

Fertilization that occurs within the female reproductive tract.

Oviparity

A reproductive strategy where eggs are fertilized internally and receive nourishment through their yolk.

Ovoviviparity

A form of reproduction where eggs develop inside the mother and receive nourishment from the yolk.

Viviparity

A reproductive strategy where embryos receive direct nourishment from the mother’s blood via the placenta.

Cleavage

A series of rapid mitotic divisions of the fertilized egg leading to the formation of smaller cells.

Blastula

A hollow ball of cells formed early in embryonic development.

Gastrulation

The process during embryonic development where the blastula reorganizes into the gastrula.

Zygote

The fertilized egg formed from the union of sperm and egg.

Sperm Cells

Male gametes produced through the process of spermatogenesis.

Egg Cells

Female gametes produced through the process of oogenesis.

Parthenogenesis

A form of asexual reproduction where an egg develops into an individual without fertilization.

Diploid

A cell or organism that has two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Embryo

The early stage of development post-fertilization during which the organism is formed.

Gastrula

The stage of embryonic development that follows the blastula, characterized by cell layering.