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Dictionary » O » Ovum

Ovum

Definition

noun, plural: ova

(1) Female gamete; female sex cell; female reproductive cell.

(2) Egg cell.


Supplement

In humans, the ovum is the largest cell visible to the naked eye. It is about 0.1 mm in size in humans. It is produced in the ovary and eventually released into the fallopian tube during ovulation. It consists of protoplasm (with some yolk) surrounded by a think cell wall (vitelline membrane). It may also have a noncellular covering (zona pellucida). Within the cell is a large nucleus (germinal vesicle), with a nucleolus (germinal spot). The cell is haploid so that when a sperm cell fertilizes it, it forms a diploid zygote.


Synonyms:

Compare: sperm cell


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Re: An evolutionary race

... incorporate their genes into the nucleus of a cell. If the cell they do this to is a gamete precursor, the virus gene may end up in a sperm or ovum. If it becomes a new organism, the gene is then passed down indefinitely. We all, thus, have a heap of virus genes as part of our genetic make-up. ...

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by skeptic
Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:09 am
 
Forum: Microbiology
Topic: An evolutionary race
Replies: 3
Views: 424

fraternal twins

There are probably genes contributing to the chances of more than one ovum being ovulated in a cycle. Twins do sometimes "run in families."

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by Darby
Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:15 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: fraternal twins
Replies: 4
Views: 1137

Boy And Girl Possibility

Maybe that's true since the book said that the sperm which contain Y chromosome is more competitive for searching the ovum....

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by F4T32008
Sun May 11, 2008 3:57 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: Boy And Girl Possibility
Replies: 19
Views: 3529

human body cell

... of the present day technology, from which part of the human body a given cell is extracted?Also,provided the cell is not a sperm cell or an ovum.

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by syncytium
Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:58 am
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: human body cell
Replies: 5
Views: 1653

Cat Ovary Maturing Follicle Microscope Picture

... a picture of a Maturing Follicle in a cat ovary. I need atleast five labels, and I also have a few questions to ask. First, I can identify the ovum itself, the cytoplasm of the ovum, and the Zona Pellucida in the picture. That makes three. I cannot seem to find two more things to identify, ...

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by TerrorByte
Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:40 pm
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Cat Ovary Maturing Follicle Microscope Picture
Replies: 1
Views: 3158
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