DISPERMY Meaning and
Definition
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Dispermy is a biological term that refers to a reproductive process involving the fusion of two sperm cells with a single egg during fertilization. The word is derived from the prefix "di-" meaning two, and the suffix "-spermy" which pertains to reproduction by means of sperm.
In a typical fertilization process, a single sperm cell fuses with an egg cell, resulting in the formation of a zygote. However, in certain circumstances, two sperm cells may simultaneously penetrate an egg, leading to a condition known as dispermy. This phenomenon can occur naturally, but it is relatively rare.
Dispermy can have various outcomes, depending on the specific circumstances. In some instances, both sperm cells may manage to successfully fertilize the egg, resulting in the formation of a polyploid zygote. Polyploidy refers to the condition where an organism possesses multiple sets of chromosomes instead of the usual two sets. This occurrence is typically nonviable in humans and often leads to spontaneous abortion or pregnancy loss.
Alternatively, if both sperm cells successfully fuse with the egg, but only one contributes its genetic material to the resulting zygote, an abnormal number of chromosomes may be present. This chromosomal imbalance can lead to developmental abnormalities and genetic disorders in the resulting embryo.
In summary, dispermy is a reproductive occurrence involving the simultaneous fusion of two sperm cells with a single egg. It can lead to various outcomes, including polyploid zygotes or chromosomal imbalances, which often result in pregnancy loss or genetic abnormalities.
Common Misspellings for DISPERMY
- sispermy
- xispermy
- cispermy
- fispermy
- rispermy
- eispermy
- duspermy
- djspermy
- dkspermy
- dospermy
- d9spermy
- d8spermy
- diapermy
- dizpermy
- dixpermy
- didpermy
- diepermy
- diwpermy
- disoermy
- dislermy
Etymology of DISPERMY
The word dispermy is derived from two Greek roots: dis, meaning two or double, and sperma, meaning seed or sperm.
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