Termékenyítés

Termékenyítés is the Hungarian word for fertilization, a fundamental biological process. It refers to the fusion of gametes, typically a male sperm and a female egg, to initiate the development of a new individual. This fusion restores the diploid number of chromosomes, half from each parent. The outcome of fertilization is a zygote, which is the first cell of a new organism.

In sexual reproduction, fertilization is a crucial step. The process can occur either internally within the body of one of the parents, as is common in many animals including mammals and birds, or externally in the environment, such as in many fish and amphibians. The timing and location of fertilization are often influenced by various environmental factors and the reproductive strategies of the species involved.

The success of fertilization depends on several factors, including the viability and motility of the gametes, the presence of compatible chemical signals between them, and the ability of the egg to receive and activate the sperm. After the sperm penetrates the egg, a series of biochemical events are triggered that prevent further sperm entry and initiate the rapid cell division and differentiation that leads to embryonic development. In plants, a similar process occurs, often involving the transfer of pollen to the ovule, followed by the fusion of male and female gametes within the seed.