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- In others, the male and female gametes are distinct types 2. Fertilisation (syngamy)
(heterogametes). Male gamete is called the antherozoid It is the fusion of gametes to form a diploid zygote.
(sperm) and female gamete is called the egg (ovum). Organisms like rotifers, honeybees, some lizards and birds
Sexuality in organisms: (turkey), the female gamete develops to new organisms
- Plants may be bisexual (i.e. monoecious- male & female without fertilisation. This is called parthenogenesis.
reproductive structures in the same plant) or unisexual Types of fertilization:
(i.e. dioecious- male and female reproductive structures a. External fertilisation: Syngamy occurs in the external
on different plants). medium (water), i.e. outside the body of the organism.
- In dioecious (unisexual) flowering plants, the male E.g. most aquatic organisms (many algae, bony fishes
flower is staminate (bearing stamens) while the female etc) and amphibians.
is pistillate (bearing pistils). E.g. papaya and date palm. Such organisms show synchrony between the sexes and
- In monoecious flowering plants, male & female flowers release a large number of gametes into the surrounding
are present on same individual. E.g. Cucurbits & coconuts. medium in order to enhance the chances of syngamy.
- Fungi may be homothallic (bisexual) or heterothallic Disadvantage: The offspring are extremely vulnerable
(unisexual). to predators threatening their survival up to adulthood.
- Bisexual animals (hermaphrodites): Earthworms, leech, b. Internal fertilisation: Syngamy occurs inside the body.
sponge, tapeworm, etc. E.g. terrestrial organisms, belonging to fungi, animals
- Unisexual animals: Cockroach, higher animals etc. (reptiles, birds, mammals) & plants (bryophytes,
Cell division during gamete formation: pteridophytes, gymnosperms & angiosperms).
- Haploid parental body (many monera, fungi, algae and In this, non-motile egg is formed inside the female body
bryophytes) produces haploid gametes by mitosis. to where motile male gamete reaches and fuses.
- Diploid parental body (pteridophytes, gymnosperms, In seed plants, the non-motile male gametes are carried
angiosperms & animals) produces haploid gametes by to female gamete by pollen tubes.
meiosis of meiocytes (gamete mother cell). There is large number of sperms produced but the
number of eggs is very low.
Name of Chromosome number
organism In meiocytes (2n) In gametes (n)
3. Post-fertilisation Events
Human being 46 23 These are the events after the formation of zygote.
Housefly 12 24 The Zygote
Rat 42 21 - In organisms with external fertilisation, zygote is formed
Dog 78 39
in the external medium. In organisms with internal
Cat 38 19
fertilisation, zygote is formed inside body.
Fruit fly 8 4
Ophioglossum 1260 630
- Further development of the zygote depends on the type of
Apple 34 17 life cycle of the organism and the nature of environment.
Rice 24 12 - In fungi and algae, zygote develops a thick wall that is
Maize 20 10 resistant to desiccation and damage. It undergoes a period
Potato 48 24 of rest before germination.
Butterfly 380 190 - In organisms with haplontic life cycle, zygote divides by
Onion 32 16 meiosis into haploid spores that grow into haploid
individuals.
b. Gamete Transfer - Every sexually reproducing organism begins life as a
- Male gametes need a medium to move towards female zygote. It is the vital link between organisms of one
gametes for fertilisation. generation and the next.
- In a majority of organisms, male gamete is motile and the
Embryogenesis
female gamete is stationary. In a few fungi and algae
both types of gametes are motile. - It is the development of embryo from the zygote.
- In simple plants (algae, bryophytes & pteridophytes), - During embryogenesis, zygote undergoes cell division
gamete transfer takes place through water medium. To (mitosis) and cell differentiation.
compensate the loss of male gametes during transport, - Cell divisions increase the number of cells in the embryo.
large number of male gametes is produced. Cell differentiation causes the modifications of groups of
- In seed plants, pollen grains (in anthers) carry male cells into various tissues and organs to form an organism.
gametes and ovule has the egg. Pollen grains are Based on place of zygote development animals are 2 types:
transferred to the stigma. a. Oviparous: Here, animals lay fertilized/unfertilized eggs.
E.g. In reptiles & birds, the fertilized eggs covered by
- In bisexual, self-fertilizing plants, (e.g. peas) transfer of
hard calcareous shell are laid in a safe place. After
pollen grains to the stigma is easy as anthers and stigma
are located close to each other. incubation young ones hatch out.
b. Viviparous: Here, the zygote develops into a young one
- In cross pollinating plants (including dioecious plants),
inside the female body. Later, the young ones are
pollination helps in transfer of pollen grains to the delivered out of the body. E.g. most of mammals.
stigma. Pollen grains germinate on the stigma and the
Because of proper care and protection, the chances of
pollen tubes carrying the male gametes reach the ovule
survival of young ones are greater in viviparous animals.
and discharge male gametes near the egg.
- In dioecious animals, the fertilisation helps for successful Embryogenesis in flowering plants (see next chapter)
transfer and coming together of gametes.