The female reproductive system has two processes which are embryogenesis and gametogenesis. Embryogenesis takes place only in Mitosis which is also responsible for the formation of the embryo while in gametogenesis both mitosis and meiosis take place
In short, gametogenesis is a process where gametes are formed whereas when the gametes get fertilized and form a zygote this is considered embryogenesis.
Gametogenesis
In the female reproductive system gametogenesis is a very important process in which haploid sex cells are formed. If simply put, there is the formation of gametes.
This process happens in the gametangia in plants whereas in the gonads for animals.
Gametogenesis has two main principal processes which are cell division and maturation. It has been divided into two more types, the first type is Oogenesis, and the other type is spermatogenesis. This is mainly based on the type of sex cells for which are formed in the body.
Oogenesis
Oogenesis is a process in which ova is formed which is also recognised as female gametes and are later produced to form ovum. This is an important and very complex process in the body of the mammals which facilitates the development of female gamete. In short, the process of development of meiosis is called oogenesis.
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis is a process in which sperm cells are produced in the body; these sperm cells later give rise to the haploid spermatozoa. The main function of the spermatocytes is to divide or to produce the immature sperm cells which are named as spermatids.
Embryogenesis
There is another sequential process which is embryogenesis also that occurs in the female reproductive system, where there is the formation and there is the development of the unicellular zygote and there can also be the formation of multicellular embryos.
This takes around 5 to 11 weeks or roughly 58 days in the human body. In short, the embryonic development goes on till 11 weeks after which the main fetal development begins The female gamete and the male gamete start being fertilized and later it forms the zygote, this process is later divided into 4 different stages cleavage gastrulation, neurulation, and organogenesis.
Cleavage
Cleavage is mainly division of cells which cannot be seen while in their growth stage it is in the shape of a cell cluster of the same size as a zygote. There are two types of cleavage which are Meroblastic and holoblastic. The whole cleavage occurs in the holoblastic and partially occurs in the meroblastic.
Gastrulation
Gastrulation is basically a single layered blastula development process in which it develops the single layered blastula in a multi-layered gastrula; this process gives the orientation of the embryo.
Neurulation
Neurulation is mainly a process that bends the neural plate and later is used in the formation of a long hollow tube. This hollow tube helps in the differentiation between the brain and the spinal cord in the body.
Organogenesis
Organogenesis, as the name suggests, helps in the development of organs after the gastrulation process is completed.
Difference between Gametogenesis and Embryogenesis
GAMETOGENESIS | EMBRYOGENESIS |
Occurs before fertilization | Occurs after fertilization |
The formation of male and female gametes takes place. | The formation and the development of the embryo take place from the zygote. |
The occurs in the ovaries and the testes in the animals. | This occurs inside the female reproductive system. |
Both Mitosis and Meiosis occur in the process. | Mitosis occurs in the embryogenesis |
The different stages: Gametogenesis, gametogenesis I, gametogenesis II, Maturation | There are four stages: Cleavage, gastrulation, neurulation, and organogenesis |
It forms a haploid gamete | It forms diploid cells of the embryo |
They two types: spermatogenesis and oogenesis | This later leads to Organogenesis. |
In plants, the process happens in antheridia and archegonia | In plants, the process happens in the female Gametophyte. |
Conclusion
Gametogenesis and Embryogenesis are the two main processes that take place in the female reproductive system. The processes include the formation of the gamete, their fertilization, and the formation of zygote and embryo. The FAQs section attempts to address the most probable queries that might arise. The FAQs section provides additional information which will aid a better understanding of the topic.
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