× Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask a question
Top Posters
Since Sunday
f
3
b
2
e
2
b
2
j
2
E
2
o
2
L
2
m
2
R
2
C
2
b
2
New Topic  
NotAlice NotAlice
wrote...
Posts: 2
Rep: 0 0
2 years ago
What mechanisms prevent two sperm or two eggs from producing zygotes in all species? Are they the same mechanisms that prevent the sperm of one specie and the egg of another specie from producing a zygote? I read that "different chromosomes" and "different cell surface proteins" prevent interspecies breeding. Aren't "different cell surface proteins" the mechanisms that prevent two sperm or two eggs from producing zygotes? What proteins are they?
Read 305 times
3 Replies

Related Topics

Replies
wrote...
Educator
2 years ago
Hi Gender Critical,

One major barrier that prevents the fusion of isolated gametes from different species is the zona pellucida — a glycoprotein-rich coat that surrounds the ovulated oocyte — which exhibits species-specific interactions with sperm. Interestingly, by removing the zona pellucida it was found that oocytes from the Syrian golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) had the unusual ability to fuse with acrosome-reacted sperm from several other mammalian species, including mouse, pig and human.

Source  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4275915/
NotAlice Author
wrote...
2 years ago Edited: 2 years ago, NotAlice
Hi Gender Critical,
One major barrier that prevents the fusion of isolated gametes from different species is the zona pellucida — a glycoprotein-rich coat that surrounds the ovulated oocyte — which exhibits species-specific interactions with sperm. Interestingly, by removing the zona pellucida it was found that oocytes from the Syrian golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) had the unusual ability to fuse with acrosome-reacted sperm from several other mammalian species, including mouse, pig and human.

Thank you! What about sperm-sperm and egg-egg interactions? Is there a barrier that prevents two sperm or two eggs from forming a zygote?

@bio_man
wrote...
Educator
2 years ago
The proteins found on the cellular membrane of these gametes are very specific as to which other proteins they can interact with. That is, two sperm don't have the protein–ligand interactions that are needed for a reaction to occur.

Does that help?
New Topic      
Explore
Post your homework questions and get free online help from our incredible volunteers
  647 People Browsing
Related Images
  
 122
  
 689
  
 153
Your Opinion
Which of the following is the best resource to supplement your studies:
Votes: 374

Previous poll results: Where do you get your textbooks?