zigotos
Zigotos, or zygotes, are the fertilized cells formed when a haploid sperm cell merges with a haploid egg cell. The zygote represents the first stage of development in sexually reproducing organisms and contains a diploid set of chromosomes—one chromosome from each parent—carrying the organism’s complete genetic material. The term zygote comes from the Greek zygotēs, meaning yoked or joined.
Formation and early development: In animals, fertilization typically occurs when a sperm penetrates the egg, resulting
In humans, fertilization usually happens in the fallopian tube, and the zygote travels toward the uterus while
In plants, the zygote forms after pollen fertilizes an ovule and then begins embryonic development within the
Significance: The study of zygotes informs reproductive and developmental biology and underpins assisted reproductive technologies such