Reproduction in Plants &

Mammals
Gamete Formation:
Mammals
• Spermatogenesis (Males):

• Takes place in the tubules of the

testes
• Germinal epithelial cells divide by
mitosis to produce diploid
spermatogonia which grow to form
primary spermatocytes
• These divide by meiosis II to form 2
haploid secondary spermatocytes
which continue with meiosis II
forming 4 spermatids that mature
into spermatozoans
 Oogenesis (Females):
• Takes place in the ovaries
• Germinal epithelial cells divide by mitosis to produce diploid oogonia
• Oogonia start meiosis and become primary oocytes (still diploid), but meiosis
stops at prophase I
• All this occurs before a baby girl is born and at birth has around 400 000 primary
oocytes
• At puberty, primary oocyte continues to finish meiosis I to produce secondary
oocyte and first polar body (small haploid cell with less cytoplasm; degenerates)
• Each month one secondary oocyte is released into the oviduct to get fertilised
• If fertilisation occurs, secondary oocyte undergoes meiosis II to form an ovum
and second polar body
• If ovum is fertilised, then a diploid cell is formed: zygote embryo fetus
 Sperm Gamete
• Acrosome: A membrane-bound storage site for
enzymes that digest the layers surrounding the
ovum to penetrate it.
• Nucleus: Contains highly condensed genetic
material, therefore less energy is required to
carry it
• Neck/Middle: Tightly packed mitocondion is
present. They provide the energy for lashing the
tail to move
• Tail: A complex flagellum (9+2 microtubule) that
creates a whipping motion to propel it forwards
 Egg Gamete
• Zona Pellucida: A jelly-like layer surrounding
the oocyte; controls sperm enterance
• Cytoplasm: Stores large amounts of food
• Follicle Cells: Surrounds the Zona Pellucida.
They are left over from the ovulation process.
• Cotical Granules: Specialized lysosomes that
activate when sperm enters the cell, causing
the Zona Pellucida to harden. This prevent
polyspermy fertilization
• Haploid Nucleus: Genetic material at the end
of the first stage of meiosis
 Fertilisation: Mammals

• Cells surrounding the secondary oocyte release chemicals, attracting the sperm cells.
• Once sperm reaches the secondary oocyte, an Acrosome reaction occurs.
• Enzymes are released. They begin digesting the follicle and zona pellucida layers.
• The enzymes are released by exocytosis from the sperm head.
• Once digested, the sperm nucleus decondenses. Then it’s released by exocytosis into the secondary
oocyte.
• The cortical reaction takes place, releasing enzymes that cause hardening of the zona pellucida. This
prevents other sperm cells from entering.
• The genetic material is taken into the cell by endocytosis. This triggers Meiosis II to form an ovum.
• The haploid nuclei fuse, forming a diploid zygote.
 Fertilisation: Mammals Summary

1. Acrosome Reaction - enzymes in acrosome of sperm breakdown

Zona Pellucida, sperm nucleus then enters egg cell.

2. Cortical Reaction - zona pellucida hardens, preventing

polyspermy.

3. Nuclear Fusion - Full set of chromosomes are restored which

forms a Diploid Zygote.
Where does male gamete formation occur?
A. Prostate
B. Tubules of Testes
C. Vas Deferens
Where does female gamete formation occur?
A. Ovary
B. Cervix
C. Uterus
Label the parts of a Mature Sperm
Label the parts of a Mature Ovum
What is the process of female gamete
formation called?
What is the process of male gamete formation
called?
How are mammalian egg adapted for
function?
A. Zona pellucida to prevent polyspermy
B. Haploid nucleus to restore a full set of chromosomes at fertilization
C. Both A and B
How are mammalian sperm adapted for
function?
A. Contain many mitochondrion for energy in moving
B. Tail contains digestive enzyme which breakdown zona pellucida of
egg
C. Multiple heads for faster fusion with egg
What stage/s of the male gamete formation
are the cells diploid?
A. Spermatogonia and Primary Spermatocyte
B. Spermatogonia
C. Primary Oocyte and Secondary Spermatocyte
What stage/s of the female gamete formation
are the cells diploid?
A. Oogonia and Primary Oocyte
B. Oogonia only
C. Primary Oocyte and Secondary Oocyte
What is a mature sperm called?
A. Spermatid
B. Spermatozoan
C. Spermatocyte
What is a mature egg cell called?
A. Ovum
B. Oocyte
C. Oogonia
Which structure of the Ovum controls the
sperm entrance?
A. Zona Pellucida
B. Cortical Cells
C. Cell Surface membrane
What part of the sperm cell is packed with
many mitochondrion for energy?
A. Head
B. Neck
C. Tail
What does a normal spermatozoan look like?
A. One head with acrosome, a neck and a tail
B. One head with acrosome, a neck and 2 tails
C. One head, a neck and a tail
Germinal epithelial cells divide to form either
spermatogonia or oogonia by what process?
A. Meiosis
B. Mitosis
C. Spermatogenesis/Oogenesis
When is primary oocyte produced?
A. After childhood
B. In embryo
C. During puberty
When is secondary oocyte produced?
A. After childhood
B. In embryo
C. After puberty
Till what stage of meiosis is reached during
oogenesis in the EMBRYO?
A. Metaphase II
B. Prophase I
C. Prophase II
At puberty what is produced from primary
oocyte after meiosis I?
A. Secondary Oocyte
B. Secondary Oocyte and First Polar Body
C. Ovum and Second Polar Body
Secondary Spermatocyte produces how many
spermatids?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 8
Order of male gamete formation?
A. Primary Spermatocyte, Secondary Spermatocyte, Spermatogonia,
Spermatid, Spermatozoan
B. Spermatogonia, Primary Spermatocyte, Secondary Spermatocyte,
Spermatid, Spermatozoan
C. Spermatid, Spermatogonia, Primary Spermatocyte, Secondary
Spermatocyte, Spermatozoan
Order of female gamete formation?
A. Oogonia, Primary Oocyte, Ovum and Polar Body
B. Oogonia, Primary Oocyte, Secondary Oocyte and First Polar Body,
Ovum and Second Polar Body
C. Primary Oocyte, Secondary Oocyte and First Polar Body, Oogonia,
Ovum and Second Polar Body
Gamete Formation :
Plants
In males:

• Takes place in the anther

• Diploid pollen mother cells divide by
meiosis forming 4 haploid cells.
• The nuclei of these cells divide by
mitosis (cytokinesis does not take place)
resulting in cells with two haploid nuclei
• These cells mature into pollen grains
• One of the nuclei is the tube nucleus
and the other is generative nucleus. The
generative nucleus divides by mitosis to
give 2 nuclei, which are the male
gametes.
 In Female Plants:
• Takes place in the ovules
• Diploid spore mother cell divides by
meiosis to produce four haploid cells
• All but one degenerates; this cell develops
into an embryo sac
• Embryo sac divides by mitosis 3 times
forming 8 haploid nuclei, of which one
becomes the female gamete

In plants, gametes are not formed directly from meiosis, instead meiosis is used in
producing the pollen grains and embryo sac which then form gametes by mitosis
Fertilisation: Plants
• Once a pollen reaches the stigma surface, it starts germinating after absorbing the sugar
solution on its surfaces.
• The pollen tube starts growing towards towards the embryo via chemical stimulus.
• The tube nucleus releases enzymes by exocytosis allowing the formation of a tube.
• As the tube elongates, nutrient are absorbed along the way.
• The generative nucleus divides producing 2 sperm nuclei.
• The pollen tube reaches the micropyle (the enterance to the embryo), penetrating the
embryo sac wall.
• Double fertilization occurs, in which 1 nucleus fuses with the Egg cell, forming a diploid
zygote. The other nucleus fuses with the 2 polar nuclei forming a triploid endosperm
nucleus.
• After fertilization, the ovule becomes a seed, The zygote becomes an embryo, and the
endosperm becomes food storage.
What part of a plant does male gamete
formation occur?
A. Petal
B. Nectary
C. Anther
What part of a plant does female gamete
formation occur?
A. Style
B. Ovules
C. Stigma
True or False: In plants, gametes are not
directly produced from Meiosis
Stages of female gamete formation in plants?

I. Haploid Cell (4)

II. Diploid Mother Cell
III. Embryo Sac (8)
IV. Mature Embryo Sac
Stages of male gamete formation in plants?

I. Haploid Pollen Cell (Tetrad)

II. Pollen Mother Cell
III. Mature Pollen Grain
IV. Separate Pollen Grains
Order of female gamete formation in plants?

I. Embryo sac divides by mitosis 3 times forming 8 haploid nuclei

II. 4 haploid cells are formed by meiosis
III. One haploid cell generates and form an embryo sac
IV. One haploid nuclei survives and become the female gamete
Order of male gamete formation in plants?

I. The nuclei of these haploid cells divide by mitosis resulting in cells

with two haploid nuclei
II. Maturation into pollen grains
III. 4 haploid cells are formed by meiosis
III. The generative nucleus divides by mitosis to give 2 nuclei, which are
the male gametes.
Fertilisation: Plants