K.

Deepak Singh

Unit 7 : Developmental Biology

K. Deepak Singh

K. Deepak Singh
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Embryology
Embryology is a branch of biology that deals with gamete formation (gametogenesis),
fusion of gametes (fertilization), and development of embryo (embryogenesis).
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 K. Deepak Singh
Gametogenesis
The process of formation and development of gametes in the gonads either male or female
is known as gametogenesis.
It is a meiotic cell division which take place in respective gonads i.e., testes in male and
ovaries in female.
On the basis of sex, gametogenesis is of 2 types
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1. Spermatogenesis: Formation and development of male gamete

2. Oogenesis: Formation and development of female gamete

Gametogenesis

Spermatogenesis Oogenesis
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Spermatogenesis
The process of formation or development of sperm cells (male gametes) in the germinal
epithelium of the testes (male reproductive organ) is known as spermatogenesis.
The development process is distinguished into three phases…
• Multiplication phase
• Growth phase
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• Maturity phase
1) Multiplication phase: The testis are composed of numerous seminiferous tubules
which are lined by germinal epithelial cells. These germinal epithelial cells produce
primary germ cells, and these germ cells further multiply repeatedly by the process of
mitosis in order to produce spermatogonia having diploid number of chromosome (2n).
2) Growth phase: These spermatogonia further grow and increase in size by the
accumulation of nourishing materials and attain maturity. These mature spermatogonia
are now known by primary spermatocytes which are ready to undergo further
maturation phase.
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3) Maturity phase: Each primary spermatocytes further
divides by the process of meiosis (meiosis I) to form
secondary spermatocytes having haploid number of
chromosome (n). These secondary spermatocytes again
divides (meiosis II) to form a haploid spermatids.
These spermatids are oval, non-motile at the beginning
but later transformed into elongated and motile sperms
having small head with the nucleus and a long tail.
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K. Deepak Singh K. Deepak Singh
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Structure of Sperm
Sperm is an male gamete produced in the testis of male reproductive
organ (gonads). Approximately 200-300 million sperm are ejaculated
at one go. Sperm is composed of three parts…
Head: The head of the sperm is large and oval in structure that
contains an elongated haploid nucleus along with others substances.
The anterior portion head is covered by a cap-like structure called
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acrosome. This acrosome is filled with proteolytic enzymes (lysin)

that help in getting into the ovum by dissolving the egg membrane
and cause fertilization.
Middle piece: The middle piece consists of many (10-12 in number)
mitochondria which provide energy to the sperm for locomotion. It
also contains the 2 centrioles, in which proximal centrioles later helps
in cleavage of egg or zygote, while distal centriole helps in the
formation of axial filament of the tail.
Tail: The tail is a long flagella like structure made of fibrous axial
filament with usual 9+2 arrangement of microtubules that helps the
sperm to move forward. Sperm can travel about 30 inches per hour.
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 K. Deepak Singh
Oogenesis
The process of formation or development of Ovum (Female gametes) in the germinal
epithelium of the ovary (male reproductive organ) is known as oogenesis.
The development process is distinguished into three phases…
• Multiplication phase
• Growth phase
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• Maturity phase
1) Multiplication phase: The ovary are internally lined by germinal epithelial cells.
These germinal epithelial cells produce primary germ cells, and these primary germ
cells further multiply repeatedly by the process of mitosis in order to produce oogonia
having diploid number of chromosome (2n).
2) Growth phase: These oogonia further grow and increase in size by the accumulation
of yolk and attain maturity. These mature oogonia are now known by primary oocytes
which are ready to undergo further maturation phase.
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3) Maturity phase: Each primary oocytes undergo two
successive maturation division. The first maturation
division take place by the process of meiosis (meiosis I)
in which primary oocyte divides unequally to form larger
secondary oocyte with large amount of nutrient rich
cytoplasm and smaller first polar body with very small
amount of cytoplasm.
These secondary oocytes thus formed in first maturation
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division again undergoes second maturation division by

the same unequal division process of meiosis (meiosis II)
to form larger Ovum and a smaller second polar body.

(Note: the polar body thus formed during 1st and 2nd maturation
division were eventually degenerated or disintegrate as they have no
role in oogenesis. Thus, in oogenesis, 1 ovum and 2 or 3 polar bodies
were formed)
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K. Deepak Singh K. Deepak Singh
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Structure of Ova or Ovary
Egg of an frog is an non-motile, round or spherical in shape
measuring about 2mm in diameter.
Egg is externally covered by two thin transparent membrane i.e.,
outer vitelline membrane and inner plasma membrane.
Egg or ovum body is divided into two half or halves…
The upper half is known as animal pole which contain a single large
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nucleus and a small polar body. Animal pole region is occupied by

albumin which is dark or black in color in frog, due to the presence
of black pigment called melanin, which protect the egg from UV
radiation during development of frog.
The lower half is known as vegetal pole or vegetal hemisphere. It
contain white yolk that provide nutrition and nourishment to the
embryo during development of frog
Eggs are laid in the form of secondary oocyte which contain single
polar body (1st polar body) situated just beneath the vitelline
membrane near animal pole.
Note: Frog egg are mesolecithal and telolecithal.
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Differentiate between Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis

SN. Spermatogenesis Oogenesis

1 It take place in the testis (male gonads) It take place in the ovary (female gonads)
2 It produces sperm. It produces ova.
3 Sperms are active, motile and thread- Ova or ovary are inactive, non-motile and
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like shaped. round shaped.

3 Its growth phase has shorter period.
3 Meiotic division are equal.
4 At the end, 4 haploid sperm are
produced.
5 Absence of yolk as a reserve food.
Its growth phase has very long period.
Meiotic division are unequal.
At the end, one large ova and 3 small polar
bodies are formed.
Yolk is present as the reserve food for the
growth phase.