eli5 what gametogenesis is
In: 0
Simply put: it’s the making of your gametes. What are gametes, these are either egg or sperm cells depending on ones biological sex. Gametogenesis usually comes about because of meiosis. Gametogenesis for making sperms is called spermatogenesis, that for making egg cells is known as oogenenis.
Spermatogenesis:
You have a spermagonium in the seminiferous tubules in the testicle that goes through mitosis to become a primary spermatocyte. This primary spermatocyte will go through meoisis I to become a secondary two spermatocytes, which have their genetic material halved. Secondary spermatocytes goes through meiosis 2 and become 4 spermatids. These spermatids mature and differentiate to become sperm cells with a tail.
Oogenesis:
This one is a little more complicated but occurs in three phases. These phases are multiplication, growth and maturation.
Multiplication happens in the ovaries of unborn babies. This phase involves the germinal epithelial cells in the ovaries undergoing mitosis to become oogonia.
Each oogonium enters the growth phase in puberty, when the person starts their monthly periods. In this phase, each oogonium grows very big, and is now called the primary oocyte. The primary oocyte undergoes meiosis I and splits into two: a secondary oocyte and a smaller polar body.
In the maturation phase, they both undergo meiosis 2, however, the polar body splits into 3 degenerate cells, meaning they cannot be used. But, the secondary oocyte becomes a mature ovum.
Latest Answers