Skip to main content

Where are sperm and eggs produced?

All organisms that require two parents to create offspring go through sexual reproduction. This entails the meeting of two gametes (halves of a whole set of DNA) in order to create one new organism that is a mixing of traits from each parent in the meeting. 


Humans use this method in order to create offspring, as it takes one male and one female. The male and female versions of these gametes are the sperm and...

All organisms that require two parents to create offspring go through sexual reproduction. This entails the meeting of two gametes (halves of a whole set of DNA) in order to create one new organism that is a mixing of traits from each parent in the meeting. 


Humans use this method in order to create offspring, as it takes one male and one female. The male and female versions of these gametes are the sperm and egg respectively. Each of these are made in different locations based on the gender of the individual.


In males, sperm cells are produced via meiosis in the testes. For each beginning cell with the full 46 chromosomes one male will make 4 non-identical sperm cells with only 23 chromosomes. When they are released they travel through the Vas deferens (what they snip when a male receives a vasectomy) and through the urethra. 


In females the eggs are produced in the ovaries. Where males make 4 sperm cells with each cell division cycle females make only 1 viable egg cell and 3 "feeder" cells that will degrade in order to feed the one egg cell. This ensures the one egg has a better chance at survival. This difference in number of created cells is where the phrase "eggs are expensive, sperm is cheap" comes from. After the eggs are produced and when the female is having her period, the egg will descend down the fallopian tube the ovary is attached to and down into the uterus where, if it was fertilized in the ovary by a sperm cell, it will grow into a new human! I hope this helped you better understand the human reproductive system. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more