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Slide 2: Meiosis
The genital system is designed to ensure the survival of
the human race by mixing up the gene pool through a
process called meiosis.
When a cell undergoes mitosis, it simply duplicates its 23 pairs of chromosomes. Each
duplicated chromosome lines up along the midline and pulls apart to make two identical cells.
Each daughter cell contains the exact same 23 pairs of chromosomes that the parent cell had.
In meiosis, the parent cell also duplicates its chromosomes, but instead of each duplicated
chromosome lining up along the midline, each pair of duplicated chromosomes lines up along
the midline. This is the first mixing of the genes because in one pair of duplicated
chromosomes, the mother may be to the left of the midline and the father to the right of
midline. In another pair of duplicated chromosomes the mother may be to the right of midline
and the father to the left of midline.
The second mixing of the genes occurs while the mothers and fathers duplicated
chromosomes are lined up along the midline. The mothers and fathers chromosomes overlap
a bit and exchange some of their chromosomes, a process called crossing over.
The 2 daughter cells no longer have the same chromosomes as the parent cell, because each of
the 23 pairs of chromosomes is either from the mother or the father, but not both as it was in
mitosis. Moreover, bits of each chromosome may contains genetic instructions from the
opposite parent.
In the testes, these 4 daughter cells develop into sperm cells. In the ovaries, they develop into
eggs. When the sperm and egg unite, the embryo will have a full set of 23 chromosomes from
the mother and 23 from the father, 46 in total.
Doctors can feel the opening to the inguinal canal, the inguinal ring, through the scrotum by
sticking their finger up into the scrotum.
Sertoli cells are controlled by follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland.
Inside the fallopian tube sperm cells fertilize the egg. The
developing embryo reaches various stages as it migrates
down the fallopian tube to implant as a blastocyst in the
inner wall, or endometrium, of the uterus.
Slide 7: Placenta
Since the developing fetus is suspended in amniotic fluid,
it does not breathe oxygen. Instead, the umbilical artery
absorbs oxygen from the mothers blood in the placenta.
Arteries normally carry oxygenated blood, so delivering deoxygenated blood through the
umbilical artery and returning the oxygenated blood through the umbilical vein is contrary to all
other arteries and veins in the body.