fecundació

Fecundació, also known as fertilization, is the process by which male and female gametes fuse to form a new diploid cell, the zygote. In sexual reproduction, this fusion is essential for the creation of offspring. The male gamete, typically sperm, carries half the genetic material of the father, while the female gamete, the ovum or egg, carries half the genetic material of the mother.

The process of fecundació typically begins with the encounter of sperm and ovum. In many species, this involves the release of sperm into the female reproductive tract or into the external environment where eggs have been laid. Sperm then travel towards the egg, a journey that can be influenced by various factors such as chemical signals and the motility of the sperm itself.

Upon reaching the ovum, one sperm penetrates the egg's outer layers. This penetration triggers a series of events within the ovum that prevent further sperm from entering, thus ensuring that the resulting zygote receives the correct number of chromosomes. Once the sperm nucleus fuses with the egg nucleus, the genetic material from both parents combines, restoring the diploid number of chromosomes and initiating the development of a new individual.

Fecundació can occur either internally, within the female's body, or externally, in the environment. The specific mechanisms and timing of fecundació vary greatly across different species, reflecting the diverse reproductive strategies found in the natural world. Following fecundació, the zygote undergoes a series of cell divisions and differentiation processes, leading to the development of an embryo.