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The development of the spermatozoa
By peace | March 16, 2006
The egg cells in the ovary of the female are formed before birth, and none can be formed later. The male is different, spermatozoa are continually being formed in his testicles from puberty onwards, and into old age.
The spermatozoa are formed from parent cells found in the testicles. They undergo several changes before becoming mature, and during the changes the number of chromosomes in each spermatozoon is reduced by half. The mature spermatozoon therefore has 23 chromosomes. Of these 22 are autosomes and one is a sex chromosome. Since the parent sperm cell had 44 autosomes, an X and a Y chromosome, it follows that when it divides to form the spermatozoa, each will have 22 autosomes and an X and a Y chromosome. In this way two equal populations of spermatoza form, and each time a man has an orgasm he ejaculates between 100 and 400 million spermatozoa, they are large populations of cells.
Picture of Male Reproductive System
One population of spermatozoa has 22 autosomes and an X chromosome, the other 22 autosomes and a Y chromosome. If a spermatozoon carrying the Y chromosome fertilizes the egg, the new cell will have 44 autosomes, an X chromosome and a Y chromosome. The baby resulting from this will be a girl. This means that the father determines the sex of the child, although, of course, as chance decides which type of sperm will fertilize the egg, the sex of the child dpends on luck.
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