Fertilization

Sperm
What is involved in the maturation of a sperm cell?

Sperm

Sperm

Sperm
How does flagellar structure contribute to sperm motility?

Egg
Why is egg so much larger than sperm?

yolk proteins ribosomes t-RNA m-RNA morphogenic factors protective chemicals

Egg
What are some of the structural components of the egg?

Egg
When sperm enters at what meiotic stage is the egg?

Gametogenesis

Sperm Attraction
What is chemotaxis?

Sperm Attraction
What is a sperm-activating peptide?

Sperm Egg Interaction

What is involved in the acrosomal reaction in sea urchins?

Sperm Egg Interaction

What role does the bindin protein play in this interaction?

Sperm Egg Interaction

How does gamete recognition and binding occur in mammals?

Sperm Egg Interaction

What follows the initial penetration of egg by the sperm?

Sperm Egg Interaction

What makes this interaction in mammals different?

Preventing Polyspermy
Why is polyspermy a problem?

Preventing Polyspermy
What two mechanisms exist in sea urchins to prevent polyspermy?

Preventing Polyspermy

Preventing Polyspermy
How is the cortical granule reaction different in mammals? Why is calcium so important to the cortical granule reaction?

Egg Activation
How does egg metabolism respond to stimulation by sperm?

Egg Activation
What signaling pathway releases intracellular calcium ion concentration?

Fusion of Genetic Material

What does the sperm contribute to the developing embryo? What must happen for fusion to occur in sea urchins?

How is the fusion different in mammals?

Rearrangement of Egg Cytoplasm

What kind of cytoplamic rearrangement occurs as a result of fertilization?