This microscopic image captures the moment of fertilization, showing a single sperm cell penetrating and fusing with an ovum (egg cell).

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Fertilization is the fusion of a sperm and an egg, a process that initiates genetic variation. In humans, both the sperm and the egg contribute 23 chromosomes each. Their combination results in the formation of a zygote, a single cell containing a complete set of 46 chromosomes, organized into 23 pairs.

Fertilization

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

A zygote is formed through the process of fertilization.  It is a single cell that goes on to mitotically divide in order to produce all of the cells of an organism's body.  

Zygote

A zygote is the single cell created when a sperm and an egg fuse. Because the egg and the sperm each carry 23 chromosomes, their fusion results in a zygote with a total of 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs. Through this process, each parent contributes half of the offspring's genetic information.

Microscopic View of Fertilization

A new single-celled organism is formed when a sperm and an egg fuse, with each contributing a set of chromosomes. If an error occurs causing one of the contributing cells to have an extra chromosome, what is the most direct consequence for the newly formed organism?

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