Pronucleus
Pronucleus
Pronucleus (/proʊˈnjuːkliːəs/) is a term used in Embryology to refer to the haploid nucleus of a sperm or egg cell during the process of Fertilization.
Etymology
The term "Pronucleus" is derived from the Latin pro- meaning "before" and the Greek nucleus meaning "kernel" or "core". It is used to describe the nucleus of a sperm or egg cell before they fuse to form a Zygote.
Definition
In the context of Reproductive Biology, a pronucleus is the nucleus of a sperm or egg cell in the period between fertilization and the first cell division. Each pronucleus contains the haploid genetic material from either the father (sperm) or the mother (egg). After the sperm cell penetrates the egg cell, the two pronuclei move toward each other and fuse, forming a single diploid nucleus. This process is known as Syngamy.
Related Terms
- Haploid: A cell that contains a single set of chromosomes. The egg and sperm are haploid cells.
- Diploid: A cell that contains two sets of chromosomes. The zygote is a diploid cell.
- Zygote: The cell that results from the fusion of an egg and sperm cell. It contains a diploid set of chromosomes, one set from each parent.
- Syngamy: The process of fusion of two cells, or of their nuclei, in reproduction.
- Fertilization: The process of combining the male gamete, or sperm, with the female gamete, or egg.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pronucleus
- Wikipedia's article - Pronucleus
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