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Reproduction in Animals - Sexual Reproduction and Fertilization

Grade 8CBSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

Sexual reproduction is a type of reproduction that involves the fusion of male and female gametes to produce a ZygoteZygote.

The male reproductive organs include a pair of testes, two sperm ducts, and a penis. The testes produce the male gametes called SpermSperm.

The female reproductive organs include a pair of ovaries, oviducts (fallopian tubes), and the uterus. The ovaries produce female gametes called OvaOva (singular: OvumOvum).

Fertilization is the process of the fusion of a SpermSperm with an OvumOvum. During this process, the nuclei of the sperm and the egg fuse to form a single nucleus.

Internal Fertilization occurs inside the female body (e.g., humans, cows, birds). External Fertilization occurs outside the female body, usually in water (e.g., FishFish, FrogsFrogs, StarfishStarfish).

The fertilized egg is called a ZygoteZygote, which divides repeatedly to give rise to an EmbryoEmbryo.

Animals which give birth to young ones are called ViviparousViviparous animals, while those which lay eggs are called OviparousOviparous animals.

The stage of the embryo in which all the body parts can be identified is called a FoetusFoetus.

📐Formulae

Male Gamete (n)+Female Gamete (n)Zygote (2n)\text{Male Gamete (n)} + \text{Female Gamete (n)} \rightarrow \text{Zygote (2n)}

Fertilization=Fusion of Nuclei\text{Fertilization} = \text{Fusion of Nuclei}

ZygoteCell DivisionEmbryoDevelopmentFoetus\text{Zygote} \xrightarrow{\text{Cell Division}} \text{Embryo} \xrightarrow{\text{Development}} \text{Foetus}

💡Examples

Problem 1:

In external fertilization, why do organisms like FrogsFrogs lay hundreds of eggs while a HenHen lays only one egg at a time?

Solution:

Organisms like FrogsFrogs practice external fertilization where the fusion of gametes occurs in water. Laying hundreds of eggs and releasing millions of sperm increases the mathematical probability of successful fertilization, as many eggs and sperm are carried away by water currents, wind, or eaten by predators.

Explanation:

Since the environment is uncontrolled, the high quantity of gametes ensures that at least a few ZygotesZygotes survive to adulthood.

Problem 2:

Identify the chromosomal composition of the gametes and the resulting zygote in humans.

Solution:

In humans, the male gamete (SpermSperm) carries either an XX or a YY chromosome (22+X22 + X or 22+Y22 + Y). The female gamete (OvumOvum) always carries an XX chromosome (22+X22 + X). The ZygoteZygote will be 44+XX44 + XX (female) or 44+XY44 + XY (male).

Explanation:

The fusion of haploid (nn) gametes restores the diploid (2n2n) number of chromosomes in the ZygoteZygote.