What is an Oocyte?

An ovum or oocyte is the female gamete, that is, the cell that will give rise to an embryo when it fuses with a sperm in the process known as fertilization.

For this to happen, the oocyte has to divide its genetic material during the meiosis process into a haploid cell, i.e. 23 chromosomes. After fusion of its nucleus with the nucleus of the spermatozoon, the chromosome endowment will be restored and the formed embryo will again be diploid, with 46 chromosomes.

Curiously enough, the egg is the largest cell in a woman's body and can be seen perfectly under a microscope. In its structure, it is possible to differentiate the pellucid layer that surrounds it and a polar corpuscle when it is mature.

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Author

Zaira Salvador

B.Sc., M.Sc.

Embryologist

Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology from the Technical University of Valencia (UPV). Biotechnology Degree from the National University of Ireland en Galway (NUIG) and embryologist specializing in Assisted Reproduction, with a Master's Degree in Biotechnology of Human Reproduction from the University of Valencia (UV) and the Valencian Infertility Institute (IVI) More information about Zaira Salvador

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