Fertilization

Template page under development only.

Introduction

Fertilization is the fusion of haploid gametes, egg and sperm, to form the diploid zygote. Note though there can be subtle differences in the fertilization process which occurs naturally within the body or through reproductive technologies outside the body, the overall product in both cases is a diplod zygote. In fertilization research, after humans the mouse is the most studied species followed by domestic and farm animals. The process of fertilization involves components of, and signaling between, both sperm and egg.

Objectives

• Understand the abnormalities that occur during this period of development.
• Understand the mechanisms of gamete formation.
• Understand the mechanisms of cell division.
• Describe the differences between mitosis and meiosis.
• Understand the mechanisms of fertilization, both in vivo and in vitro.
• Describe the cleavage of the zygote.
• Describe the processes in formation of the blastocyst.
• Have a preliminary understanding of the role and process in male sex determination and X inactivation.

References

Textbooks

• Human Embryology (2nd ed.) Larson Ch1 p1-32
• The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (6th ed.) Moore and Persaud
• Before we Are Born (5th ed.) Moore and Persaud Ch 2 p14-33
• Essentials of Human Embryology Larson Ch1 p1-16
• Human Embryology Fitzgerald and Fitzgerald Ch2 p8-14

UNSW Embryology Links

• Week 1 Notes
  • Week 1 - In Vivo Fertilization
  • Week 1 - In Vitro Fertilization
  • Movie - Fertilization
  • Animation - Fertilization
  • Week 1 - Abnormalities

K12 Embryology for K12 Students - Week 1

Comments

Human week 1 development is about fertilization and early blastocyst development. I have also included in the Week 1 notes information about male sex determination and X inactivation, which are not really specific to the first week of development.

Please add any specific comments to the associated discussion page.