Sex and Reproduction

Goals

1. To become familiar with the various means of reproduction in the animal kingdom in general, and the human life cycle in particular

2. To understand how reproductive structures and functions contribute to the goal of fertilization

Outline

1. Introduction

Sex vs. reproduction

Reproduction occurs without genetic recombination in many animal species

Asexual Reproduction

• cell division
• fragmentation (e.g., budding)
• parthenogenesis (e.g., Daphnia)

Sexual Reproduction (click here to see it!)

2. The Human Reproductive system(s)

The goal is fertilization of the egg by the sperm

A. Gametogenesis -- meiosis and cell maturation (through modification of the cytoplasm)

Females: oogenesis in the ovaries

 unequal cytokinesis and odd timing

Males: spermatogenesis in the testes

 sperm formation and morphology

B. The journey of the sperm cell

testis -- gametogenesis

epididymis -- sperm maturation: gains motility and fertility

vas deferens -- peristaltic contractions

seminal vesicles -- contribute 60% of volume of semen

prostrate gland -- another 33%

bulbourethral gland

Semen contains sperm cells, nutrients, prostaglandins, and is alkaline

All this helps the sperm cells deal with the trials of getting to the ovum:

 

C. Fertilization (conception)

Penetration of the layer of follicular cells and the zona pellucida with the help of the acrosomes

 

Vocabulary

click here to go to reproduction vocabulary