Gametogenesis

cell division and differentiation to form mature haploid gametes. Depending on the biological life
cycle of the organism, gametogenesis occurs by meiotic division of diploid gametocytes into various
gametes, or by mitotic division of haploid gametogenous cells. For example, plants produce gametes
through mitosis in gametophytes. The gametophytes grow from haploid spores after sporic meiosis. The
existence of a multicellular, haploid phase in the life cycle between meiosis and gametogenesis is also
referred to as alternation of generations.

Gametogenesis is a biological process by which diploid or haploid precursor cells undergo

Animals produce gametes directly through meiosis in organs called gonads (testicle in males and ovary
in females). Males and females of a species that reproduces sexually have different forms of
gametogenesis

spermatogenesis (male)

oogenesis (female)

Stages

However, before turning into gametogonia, the embryonic development of gametes is the same in
males and females.

Common path

Gametogonia are usually seen as the initial stage of gametogenesis. However, gametogonia are
themselves successors of primordial germ cells. During early embryonic development, primordial germ
cells (PGCs) from the dorsal endoderm of the yolk sac migrate along the hindgut to the gonadal ridge.
They multiply by mitosis, and, once they have reached the gonadal ridge in the late embryonic stage, are
referred to as gametogonia. Once the germ cells have developed into gametogonia, they are no longer
the same between males and females.

Individual path
From gametogonia, male and female gametes develop differently - males by spermatogenesis and
females by oogenesis. However, by convention, the following pattern is common for both:

ploidy/chromosomes in DNA copy number/chromatids in

Cell type Process
humans human

2C before replication, 4C after / 46 gametocytogenesis

gametogonium diploid (2N)/46
before, 46 X 2 after (mitosis)

primary 2C before replication, 4C after / 46 gametidogenesis

diploid (2N)/46
gametocyte before, 46 X 2 after (meiosis 1)

secondary gametidogenesis
haploid (1N)/23 2C / 46
gametocyte (meiosis 2)

gametid haploid (1N)/23 1C / 23

gamete haploid (1N)/23 1C / 23

Easily Understand Gametogenesis

1. What are gametes?

Gametes are cells specialized in sexual reproduction. They contain half of the maximum number of
chromosomes of the species and unite with another gamete giving birth to a zygote with double of the
number of chromosomes of the gametic cells.

2. What is the type of cell division that allows sexual reproduction? What is gametogenesis?

Meiosis is the type of cell division that allows sexual reproduction since it reduces to a half the number
of chromosomes of the species making possible the combination of two gametes to form a new
individual. (In some beings meiosis creates haploid gametophytes that by means of mitosis generate
gametes. Even in this case the function of meiosis is the same: to provide cells with half of the number
of chromosomes of the species with separation of the homologous.)

3. What is the name of the cells capable of making gametes? What is the ploidy of these gamete-
forming cells?

The cells that form gametes are the germ cells as opposed to the somatic cells. The ploidy (number of
chromosomes) of the germ cells is the same as the somatic cells (only during the formation of gametes
meiosis occurs and the number of chromosomes is reduced to half).

4. What are gonads? What are the male and the female gonads in humans?

Gonads are the organs that produce gametes. They contain the germ cells that undergo division and
generate gametes. In males the gonads are the testicles. In females the gonads are are the ovaries.

5. Indicating the name and respective ploidy of each involved cell how can the formation of sperm cells
from germ cells be described?
The formation of sperm cells, or spermatogenesis, begins with a germ cell called spermatogonium (2n)
that suffers mitosis and gives birth to the spermatocyte I (2n). The spermatocyte I undergoes meiosis I
and generates two spermatocyte II (n) that then undergo meiosis II and produce four spermatids (n).
Each spermatid undergoes a maturation process called spermiogenesis and four sperm cells appear.

6. What is the difference between spermatogonium and spermatocyte I?

The male germ cells are the spermatogonia (diploid cells, 2n) situated in the testicles. They mature and
by means of mitosis give birth to spermatocytes I (2n) that will undergo meiosis.

7. What is the difference between spermatocyte I and spermatocyte II?

The spermatocyte I (2n) undergoes the first division of meiosis (meiosis I) originating two spermatocyte
II (haploid, n).

8. What is the difference between spermatocyte II and spermatid?

The spermatids (n) are the products of the second division of meiosis (meiosis II) in the male
gametogenesis. Each spermatocyte II originates two spermatids totaling four spermatids for each
spermatocyte I that enter meiosis.

9. What is the difference between spermatids and sperm cells? What is the name of the transformation
of spermatids into sperm cells?

Sperm cells (the male gametes) are matured spermatids that have already undergone differentiation
(appearance of the flagellum, reduction of the cytoplasm, formation of the acrosome, increase in the
number of mitochondria). This differentiation process is called spermiogenesis.
DEFINITIONS OF DEVELOPMENTAL PERIODS

1.Embryonic period - 0-8th week (technically weeks 3-8); mass increases about a million-fold;
involves fertilization, cleavage, gastrulation, organogenesis.

2. Fetal period - 9th week to birth; period of significant growth; mass increases about 1000-fold.

3. Post-natal period - birth to death; mass increases about 20-fold. Significant development
occurs after birth (eg. the brain triples in weight during the first 16 years of life).

4. Neonatal period the first month after birth.

5. Perinatal period roughly 26 gestation to the end of the first month after birth.

6. Infancy roughly the first year after birth.

Learning Objective

Distinguish between spermatogenesis and oogenesis

Key Points

Gametogenesis, the production of sperm (spermatogenesis) and eggs (oogenesis), takes place through
the process of meiosis.

In oogenesis, diploid oogonium go through mitosis until one develops into a primary oocyte, which
will begin the first meiotic division, but then arrest; it will finish this division as it develops in the follicle,
giving rise to a haploid secondary oocyte and a smaller polar body.

The secondary oocyte begins the second meiotic division and then arrests again; it will not finish this
division unless it is fertilized by a sperm; if this occurs, a mature ovum and another polar body is
produced.
In spermatogenesis, diploid spermatogonia go through mitosis until they begin to develop into
gametes; eventually, one develops into a primary spermatocyte that will go through the first meiotic
division to form two haploid secondary spermatocytes.

The secondary spermatocytes will go through a second meiotic division to each produce two
spermatids; these cells will eventually develop flagella and become mature sperm.

Terms

polar body

one of the small cells that are by-products of the meiosis that forms an egg

spermatocyte

a male gametocyte, from which a spermatozoon develops

oocyte

a cell that develops into an egg or ovum; a female gametocyte

mitosis

the division of a cell nucleus in which the genome is copied and separated into two identical halves. It is
normally followed by cell division

meiosis

cell division of a diploid cell into four haploid cells, which develop to produce gametes

Gametogenesis (Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis)

Gametogenesis, the production of sperm and eggs, takes place through the process of meiosis. During
meiosis, two cell divisions separate the paired chromosomes in the nucleus and then separate the
chromatids that were made during an earlier stage of the cell's life cycle, resulting in gametes that each
contain half the number of chromosomes as the parent. The production of sperm is called
spermatogenesis and the production of eggs is called oogenesis.

Oogenesis

Oogenesis occurs in the outermost layers of the ovaries. As with sperm production, oogenesis starts
with a germ cell, called an oogonium (plural: oogonia), but this cell undergoes mitosis to increase in
number, eventually resulting in up to one to two million cells in the embryo .

Oogenesis

The process of oogenesis occurs in the ovary's outermost layer. A primary oocyte begins the first meiotic
division, but then arrests until later in life when it will finish this division in a developing follicle. This
results in a secondary oocyte, which will complete meiosis if it is fertilized.

The cell starting meiosis is called a primary oocyte. This cell will begin the first meiotic division, but be
arrested in its progress in the first prophase stage. At the time of birth, all future eggs are in the
prophase stage. At adolescence, anterior pituitary hormones cause the development of a number of
follicles in an ovary. This results in the primary oocyte finishing the first meiotic division. The cell divides
unequally, with most of the cellular material and organelles going to one cell, called a secondary
oocyte, and only one set of chromosomes and a small amount of cytoplasm going to the other cell. This
second cell is called a polar body and usually dies. A secondary meiotic arrest occurs, this time at the
metaphase II stage. At ovulation, this secondary oocyte will be released and travel toward the uterus
through the oviduct. If the secondary oocyte is fertilized, the cell continues through the meiosis II,
completing meiosis, producing a second polar body and a fertilized egg containing all 46 chromosomes
of a human being, half of them coming from the sperm.

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis occurs in the wall of the seminiferous tubules , with stem cells at the periphery of
the tube and the spermatozoa at the lumen of the tube. Immediately under the capsule of the tubule
are diploid, undifferentiated cells. These stem cells, called spermatogonia (singular: spermatagonium),
go through mitosis with one offspring going on to differentiate into a sperm cell, while the other gives
rise to the next generation of sperm.
Spermatogenesis

During spermatogenesis, four sperm result from each primary spermatocyte, which divides into two
haploid secondary spermatocytes; these cells will go through a second meiotic division to produce four
spermatids.

Meiosis begins with a cell called a primary spermatocyte. At the end of the first meiotic division, a
haploid cell is produced called a secondary spermatocyte. This haploid cell must go through another
meiotic cell division. The cell produced at the end of meiosis is called a spermatid. When it reaches the
lumen of the tubule and grows a flagellum (or "tail"), it is called a sperm cell. Four sperm result from
each primary spermatocyte that goes through meiosis.

Stem cells are deposited during gestation and are present at birth through the beginning of adolescence,
but in an inactive state. During adolescence, gonadotropic hormones from the anterior pituitary cause
the activation of these cells and the production of viable sperm. This continues into old age.