Mott Center, E. Hancock, Detroit, MI Within the sperm nucleus the paternal genome remains functionally inert and protected following protamination. This is marked by a structural morphogenesis that is heralded by a striking reduction in nuclear volume. Despite these changes, both human and mouse spermatozoa maintain low levels of nucleosomes that appear non-randomly distributed throughout the genome. These regions may be necessary for organizing higher order genomic structure through interactions with the nuclear matrix.
The sperm nucleus: chromatin, RNA and the nuclear matrix
Sperm - Wikipedia
Sperm cells are gametes sex cells that are produced in the testicular organ gonad of male human beings and animals. Like the female gamete Oocyte , sperm cells carry a total of 23 chromosomes that are a result of a process known as meiosis. In both animals and human beings, among many other organisms, these cells are involved in the sexual mode of reproduction which involves the interaction of male and female gametes. The general morphology of sperm cells consists of the following parts:. Before looking at the structure and function of sperm cells, it is important to understand the process involved in their production spermatogenesis. In male animals, the hypothalamus plays a crucial role of monitoring the level of testosterone in blood.
Sperm is the male reproductive cell. In the types of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy and its subtype oogamy , there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell. A uniflagellar sperm cell that is motile is referred to as a spermatozoon , whereas a non-motile sperm cell is referred to as a spermatium. Sperm cells cannot divide and have a limited life span, but after fusion with egg cells during fertilization, a new organism begins developing, starting as a totipotent zygote.
Sperm cells, or gametes, are male reproductive cells whose function is to fertilize an egg. The sperm will carry either and X or Y chromosome that will determine the sex of the embryo. They are haploid cells, meaning they only have half of the genetic material, therefore just one sexual chromosome. The head of the sperm contains enzymes that will help break the egg barrier. The nucleus of the sperm cell contains the genetic material DNA.