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Autoimmune disorders can lead to complications in implantation of the egg in the uterus, which may be the immune system's attack response to an established embryo on the uterine wall. [35] Cancer ultimately affects fertility and may lead to birth defects or miscarriages. Cancer severely damages reproductive organs, which affects fertility. [35]
The resulting zygote then gives rise to an embryo, which will grow into a new diploid individual, known as a sporophyte. In seed plants, a structure called the ovule contains the female gametophyte. The gametophyte produces an egg cell. After fertilization, the ovule develops into a seed containing the embryo. [14]
At the beginning of the ninth week, the embryo is termed a fetus (spelled "foetus" in British English). In comparison to the embryo, the fetus has more recognizable external features and a more complete set of developing organs. Human embryology is the study of this development during the first eight weeks after fertilization.
The difference between a mammalian embryo and an embryo of a lower chordate animal is evident starting from blastula stage. Due to that fact, the developing mammalian embryo at this stage is called a blastocyst, not a blastula, which is more generic term. There are also several other differences from embryogenesis in lower chordates.
Mammalian oocytes are maintained in meiotic prophase arrest for a very long time—months in mice, years in humans. Initially, the arrest is due to lack of sufficient cell cycle proteins to allow meiotic progression. However, as the oocyte grows, these proteins are synthesized, and meiotic arrest becomes dependent on cyclic AMP. [4]
Oocytes are then able to mature within the follicle through meiosis. In humans with ovaries, this process occurs continuously, as they are born with a finite number of follicles (between 500,000-1,000,000 follicles), and about 99% of follicles undergo atresia. [4] Only one follicle will be mature enough to release an egg and may be fertilized. [5]
An oocyte (/ ˈ oʊ ə s aɪ t /, oöcyte, or ovocyte is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum, or egg cell. An oocyte is produced in a female fetus in the ovary during female gametogenesis. The female germ cells produce a primordial germ cell (PGC), which then undergoes mitosis ...
Oocyte abnormalities can be caused by a variety of genetic factors affecting different stages in meiosis. [1] Moreover, ageing is associated with oocyte abnormalities since higher maternal age is associated with oocytes with a reduced gene expression of spindle assembly checkpoints which are important in maintaining stability in the genome.