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What is the primary role of androgen-binding protein (ABP) in the process of spermatogenesis?
A very high level of testosterone (15-70 times greater than in the blood) is required for the initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis, and androgen-binding protein's most direct role is ensuring this high concentration of testosterone by preventing absorption of testosterone back into the body across the blood-testis barrier.
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Often, in animals that sexually reproduce, hormones or chemicals that are present during normal gametogenesis are not strictly necessary, allowing for a chance of reproduction even under difficult environmental circumstances.
Which of the following hormones/proteins, while normally present, may not be strictly necessary for the process of spermatogenesis in the human male?
Follicle-stimulating hormone may help to sequester testosterone in the testes (the Sertoli cells can perform the same function by releasing androgen-binding protein), but the only hormone needed to maintain spermatogenesis is testosterone itself. FSH is not needed for in-vitro maturation of spermatozoa, and thus cannot be said to be required inside the body for the process of spermatogenesis.
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Spermatogenesis is __________.
Spermatogenesis occurs only in human males (in the testes), not in females. It is the process by which spermatids are formed via meiosis. The process of meiosis contributes to genetic diversity. This is why siblings are not identical to each other or to their parents.
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How many chromosomes and how many chromatids are contained in one spermatid?
A spermatid is the final product of spermatogenesis. It is a haploid cell, meaning it has only one copy of each allele (one of each chromosome instead of two). Normal diploid cells have two copies of each chromosome, for a total of 46. Spermatids have half this number, for a total of 23 chromosomes. Each chromosome is composed of only a single chromatid following division, for a total of 23 chromatids.
When the zygote is formed during the fusion of the sperm and egg cells, the final cell is diploid, containing 46 chromosomes (23 from each gamete).
An outline of spermatogenesis is given here for further understanding.
Spermatogenesis Timeline:
- Has a pair of each chromosome, and each individual chromosome has two chromatids.
- Undergoes mitosis (normal cell division) to produce a primary speratocyte.
- Has a pair of each chromosome and each individual chromosome has one chromatid.
- Then replicates its DNA, resulting in 46 chromosomes with 92 chromatids.
- Then undergoes meiosis I (homologous chromosome pairs separate), producing two secondary spermatocytes.
- Has one of each chromosome, and each individual chromosome has two chromatids.
- Each secondart spermatocyte undergoes meiosis II (chromatids of each chromosome separate, similar to mitosis), producing a total of four spermatids.
- Has one of each chromosome, and each individual chromosome has one chromatid
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Where does spermatogenesis occur?
Spermatogenesis is the process of producing the male gametes, spermatozoa (sperm). The spermatogonia in the seminiferous tubules of the testes mature into spermatocytes, which undergo meiosis to form spermatozoa. The spermatozoa complete their maturation process in the epididymas, then they are ready to enter the vas deferens before ejaculation. Lumen is a general term that means "an opening." Although spermatogenesis does occur in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, the term lumen is too broad and is not the best answer. An ampulla is a general term that, in anatomy, means "the dilated end of a duct." There is an ampulla of the vas deferens before it enters the prostate gland, but spermatogenesis does not occur there. The prostate gland produces a milky, alkaline solution that comprises about 30% of semen. The seminal vesicles are glands that produce the majority of the solution that will become semen. Note the difference between semen (fluid) and sperm (cells).
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