Page 25 - The Miracle of Human Creation

Stages in the Formation of the Egg and Sperm Cells

spermatogonium
oogonium
(1) (diploid, 2n; 46 chromo-
(2n; 46 chromo- somes)
somes)
mitosis
mitosis (testis) (3)
(ovary) primary spermato-
cyte (diploid, 2n; 46
chromosomes)
primary oogonium
(2) (2n; 46 chromo- (4)
somes) meiosis I the no. of chromosomes
drops to half
no. of chromosomes
meiosis I drops to half secondary
spermatocyte
(haploid, n; 23
chromosomes)
meiosis II
(5)
sec-
(5)
(3) ondary spermatid
oocyte
first sperm cell n; 23 (haploid, n; 23
polar chromo- chromosomes)
body somes
(n)
meiosis II
(6) sperm cell
(haploid, n; 23
meiosis is completed in chromosomes)
the secondary oocyte

sperm
(4) if the first polar body nucleus
(n) divides

ootid is ready to unite with
the sperm when it matures
and forms the egg
(6) second polar body (n)
The stages in the formation of the egg, i.e. the female
reproductive cell, is illustrated on the left. The egg is
formed after the primary egg cells in the ovaries
(7)
(oogonia) undergo a series of divisions. In the male,
sperm is produced when the primary sperm cells in
the testes (spermatogonia) divide. From the moment
polar bodies zygote (diploid 2n; 46
collapse of their first division, the reproductive cells function
chromosomes)
under supervision. When this harmony among the el-
As a result of the various divisions of the primary egg ements that compose the human body is considered,
cells in the ovaries, three small secondary polar cells (cells, enzymes, hormones), every thinking person
and one "ootid" are produced. The small cells die will understand that this system could not come
and the larger one forms the egg. If the cells pro- about by chance. It is God Who creates human be-
duced were all of the same size, the zygote produced ings, and the extraordinary things that happen in our
after fertilisation would not receive enough nourish- bodies are examples of His creative art.
ment.