Spermatozoon
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | A '''spermatozoon''' (alternate spellings '''spermatozoan''', '''spermatozoön'''; plural '''spermatozoa''') is a motile [[sperm]] [[Cell (biology)|cell]], or moving form of the [[ploidy|haploid]] [[cell (biology)|cell]] that is the male [[gamete]]. (A non-motile sperm cell is called a [[spermatium]].) A spermatozoon [[Fertilization|joins]] an [[ovum]] to form a [[zygote]]. (A zygote is a single cell, with a complete set of [[chromosome]]s, that normally develops into an [[embryo]].) The term ''spermatozoon'' comes from the [[ancient Greek]] word σπέρμα (seed) and {{unicode|ζῷον}} (living being). | ||
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| + | Sperm cells contribute approximately half of the nuclear [[gene|genetic information]] to the [[diploid]] offspring. In mammals, the [[sex]] of the offspring is determined by the sperm cell: a spermatozoon bearing a [[Y chromosome | Y-chromosome]] will lead to a [[male]] (XY) offspring, while one bearing an [[X chromosome | X-chromosome]] will lead to a [[female]] (XX) offspring (the [[ovum]] always provides an X-chromosome). Sperm cells were first observed by [[Anton van Leeuwenhoek]] in 1677. | ||
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A spermatozoon (alternate spellings spermatozoan, spermatozoön; plural spermatozoa) is a motile sperm cell, or moving form of the haploid cell that is the male gamete. (A non-motile sperm cell is called a spermatium.) A spermatozoon joins an ovum to form a zygote. (A zygote is a single cell, with a complete set of chromosomes, that normally develops into an embryo.) The term spermatozoon comes from the ancient Greek word σπέρμα (seed) and Template:Unicode (living being).
Sperm cells contribute approximately half of the nuclear genetic information to the diploid offspring. In mammals, the sex of the offspring is determined by the sperm cell: a spermatozoon bearing a Y-chromosome will lead to a male (XY) offspring, while one bearing an X-chromosome will lead to a female (XX) offspring (the ovum always provides an X-chromosome). Sperm cells were first observed by Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 1677.
