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Introduction:

Sexual reproduction starts with the combination of a sperm and an egg in a process called
fertilization. This can occur either outside the bodies or inside the female. Both methods have
advantages and disadvantages. Once fertilized, the eggs can develop inside the female or
outside. If the egg develops outside the body, it usually has a protective covering over it.
Animal anatomy evolved various ways to fertilize, hold, or expel the egg. The method of
fertilization varies among animals. Some species release the egg and sperm into the
environment, some species retain the egg and receive the sperm into the female body and
then expel the developing embryo covered with shell, while still other species retain the
developing offspring through the gestation period.

Life begins at conception. But what of the forces that, throughout the individuals existence. During
conception, the tiny tadpole sperm penetrates the w2all of the ovum and releases chromosomes AN
d this process is of great interest to us because it has been established through research that these
chromosomes which are further subdivided into smaller particles called genes which are the carriers
of child’s heredity. All the childs physical heritage from his father and his mother is contained in
these 46 chromosomes.
 Process Of fertilization:

Fertilization is cell-cell recognition process that occurs between two distinct cells: a small
asymmetric and motile sperm cell and a large and no motile egg. The stages of fertilization can be
divided into four processes: 1) Sperm preparation 2) Sperm-egg recognition and binding 3) Sperm
egg fusion 4) fusion of sperm and egg pronuclei and activation of zygote. (Santrock, 2013)

During sexual intercourse about 300 million sperms enter the vagina.And afterwards some of
them flow out of the vagina or die. However many survive because of protective elements
provided in the fluids surrounding them. Ejaculated sperm are not ready to fertilize an egg
when they enter the vagina. In response to the dilution of semen in the vagina, they undergo
several changes, which are collectively known as capacitation. Next sperm must pass the
cervix entering in the uterus usually it remains tightly close but here cervix is opened for few
days when woman ovulates. Once inside the cervix, the sperm continues swimming to the
wall of the uterus while millions of them die trying to make it for mucus. Inside the uterus the
muscular uteral contractions assist the sperm on their journey towards the egg. However,
cells from woman’s body are taking sperm for foreign invaders destroy them. (L. Alan
Sroufe, 1996) Next half the sperm head for empty fallopian tube while other half swim
toward the tube containing unfertilized eggs. Where inside the fallopian tube tiny cilia present
push the egg toward the uterus .To continue the sperm must surge against this motion to
reach the egg. In this process some sperms get trapped in cilia and die. During this journey
chemicals in the reproductive tract cause the membranes covering the heads of the sperm to
change as a result the sperm becomes hyperactive swimming harder and faster towards their
destination. When sperm reaches the egg only few dozen of 300 million are remaining.
Where the egg is covered with a layer of cells called corona radiata. The sperm must push
through this layer to reach outer layer of the egg. When sperm reaches outer layer of the egg
they get attached to specialized sperm receptors on the surface. Inside this outer layer of egg
is a narrow fluid filled space just outside the egg cell membrane and the first sperm to make
contact will fertilize the egg. That sperm then attaches to the egg cell membrane within few
minutes the outer membrane fuse and the egg pulls the sperm inside. After this event egg
membrane changes and prevents other sperms from attaching to it. Therefore outside the egg
sperms are no longer able to attach to the outer layer of egg. Meanwhile inside the egg tightly
packed male genetic material spreads out and a new membrane forms around the genetic
material creating the male pronucleus. As male and female pronuclei with each containing 23
chromosomes form spider web like threads called microtubules pull them towards each other
and these two sets of chromosomes join together completing the process of fertilization.
(Papalia, 1999)
 Mechanism of Heredity

The science of genetics is called the study of heredity;the inborn factors,inherited from
biological parents that affect development. Genetic influences are fundamental in the
transmission of physical traits such as height,hair texture and eye color. When fertilization
takes place,they endow the baby –to-be with a genetic makeup that influences a wide range of
characteristics from color of eyes and hair to health,intellect and personality. Basis of
heredity is a chemical called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) containing inherited material
passed from parents to children. Structure of DNA is made up of four chemical units called
bases. The sequence of 3 billion base pairs constitutes the genetic code, which determines all
inherited characteristics. In each cells nucleus are chromosomes containing genes.

After mating of Sperm and Ovum, Growth and development takes place by the multiplication
of the fertilized cell through mitosis and this growth involves repeated division of the
fertilised cell. In fertilized ovum there are 24 pairs of chromosomes, 24 from father and 24
from mother. At conception when sperm and ovum fuse at conception, they produce a zygote
with 46 chromosomes, 23 from father and 23 from mother.where twenty two pairs are
autosomes which aren’t related to sexual expression. The twenty third pair are sex
chromosome which governs the baby’s sex. Sex chromosomes are of two types; X Or
Y.When an ovum is fertilized by an X carrying sperm forming a zygote XX, a female. When
an ovum is fertilized by a Y carrying sperm, the zygote formed is XY, a male.Each
chromosome consists of small particles numbering 40 to 100, which are called genes. In fact
the genes are the real carriers and determinants of heredity. Each gene carries some structure
which is responsible for the development of a particular trait. There is experimental evidence
to prove that the physical traits, like the colour of the eyes, the skin, the size, the type of
blood, and some organic diseases are represented by respective genes.

The dominant version of the gene causes distal segment of pinky finger to bend distinctly
inward toward the ring (fourth) finger. Here the genes that produce this ability or inability to
bend this pinky fingerare called alleles. every person receives a pair of alleles one from each
parent.When both alleles are same, the person is homozygous for the characteristic whereas
when they are different, the person is heterozygous. Recessive inheritance occurs only when
a person receives two recessive alleles one from each parent.Whereas in dominant inheritance
, when a person is heterozygous for a particular trait
 Pictorial depiction of heredity
Bibliography
L. Alan Sroufe, R. C. (1996). Child development: its nature and course. McGraw-Hill.

Papalia, D. E. (1999). Child Development. Allyn & Bacon.

Santrock, J. (2013). Child Developement. McGraw-Hill Education.

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