Fertilisation occurs when a sperm cell (from the man) and an egg cell (from the woman) join together to form a new cell called a zygote. This is the first step in the formation of a baby. Scientists say lab-grown sperm and eggs are just a few years away Katsuhiko Hayashi, a professor at Osaka University, told the Guardian that his lab is close to being able to turn adult skin or blood cells into eggs and sperm The process is also called in-vitro gametogenesis
and could pave the way for people to have biological offspring regardless of fertility and age Hayashi, a professor at Osaka University, told the Guardian that his lab is only seven years away from making the breakthrough Conception chief executive Matt Krisiloff told the Guardian that it could allow women to have children at an older age
The reproductive process
Before we dive in deeper, here are some basic terms:
Sperm: A male reproductive cell, made in the testes
Egg (ovum): A female reproductive cell, released from the ovary.
Zygote: A single cell formed after fertilization, which later becomes a baby.
Fallopian tube: The place where fertilization usually takes place inside the female body.
How the sperm meets the egg
Here's a step-by-step look at what happens during sperm fertilization of an egg:
1. Ovulation
- Every month, a woman's ovary releases a mature egg.
- The egg travels through the fallopian tube.
2. The sperm's journey
- During sex, millions of sperm are released into the woman's body.
- Only a few hundred reach the fallopian tube.
- Only one of these sperms is able to penetrate the egg.
3. Fertilization occurs
- When a sperm breaks through the outer layer of the egg, fertilization occurs. The sperm and the egg combine their DNA to form a zygote.
What happens after fertilization occurs
The zygote begins to divide into more cells. It travels to the uterus and attaches to the wall. This signals the beginning of pregnancy. Fertilization takes about 24 hours to complete. A sperm can live up to 5 days inside a woman's body. The egg lives only for 12-24 hours after ovulation.