spermatogenesis

[ spur-mat-uh-jen-uh-sis, spur-muh-tuh- ]

noun

, Biology.

1. the origin and development of spermatozoa.

spermatogenesis

/ ˌspɜːmətəʊdʒəˈnɛtɪk; ˌspɜːmətəʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs /

noun

1. the formation and maturation of spermatozoa in the testis See also spermatocyte

spermatogenesis

/ spər-măt′ə-jĕn′ĭ-sĭs,spûr′mə-tə- /

1. The formation and development of spermatozoa. Spermatogenesis in humans begins with the spermatogonium, the diploid cell that undergoes mitosis to form new spermatogonia as well as cells called primary spermatocytes. Each primary spermatocyte then undergoes the first meiotic division to produce two secondary spermatocytes. Each secondary spermatocyte undergoes the second meiotic division to produce two nonmotile cells called spermatids. The four spermatids then develop flagella and become sperm. Since some of the original spermatogonia replace themselves, the males are able to produce large numbers of sperm continuously after sexual maturity.

Derived Forms

• spermatogenetic, adjective

Other Words From

• sper·ma·to·ge·net·ic [spur-m, uh, -toh-j, uh, -, net, -ik, sper-mat-oh-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spermatogenesis¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1880–85; spermato-, -genesis

Example Sentences

"So why hasn't the Y chromosome disappeared, as some previous hypotheses suggested? In collaboration with Sergei Kosakovsky Pond from Temple University and others, we found that the Y chromosome still has a number of genes evolving under purifying selection -- a type of natural selection that keeps gene sequences intact. Many of these genes are important for spermatogenesis. This means that the Y chromosome is unlikely to disappear any time soon."

From Science Daily

HSF5 is required for progression beyond the pachytene stage during spermatogenesis, guiding the meiotic program towards completion and activating genes associated with sperm formation.

From Science Daily

The study's results are alarming, with the linuron-exposed frogs' male offspring exhibiting altered spermatogenesis, increased body weight, and modifications in fat and carbohydrate metabolism.

From Science Daily

To do this, sperm stem cells in the testes continuously make more of themselves, until a signal tells them it's time to turn into sperm -- a process called spermatogenesis.

From Science Daily

A research team led by Professor Noriko Osumi from the Department of Developmental Neuroscience at the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine has previously revealed that epigenetic factors, including histone modifications in spermatogenesis and DNA methylation in mice sperm, undergo changes with age.

From Science Daily