An introduction to human fertilization and the challenges facing the sperm and egg. How do they find each other and how do they combine to form a new life?
- When an egg is released from the ovary, it travels down the fallopian tube to await the sperm.
- Before sperm can enter an egg, it must become hyperactivated.
- Once a sperm has entered, the egg hardens to prevent other sperm from getting in.
- Inside a fertilized egg, genetic information gathers to form a zygote.
Once a month a woman's egg is released and travels down the fallopian tube, and ends up in the correct position to be fertilized.
And, once released, the egg has only 24 hours before it disintegrates.
So the pressure's on for the egg and the sperm to be ...
Please log in to view and download the complete transcript.