HOW BABIES ARE MADE
The fusion of sex cells that begins the great journey of pregnancy
WORDS JAMES HORTON
A sperm cell must pass a thick membrane encasing the egg, known as a zona pellucida, before fertilisation can occur
DID YOU KNOW? The ovum is one of the largest cells in the human body, and sperm cells are some of the smallest
Humans reproduce by sexual reproduction. This mixes the genetic information of two people. For this to happen we have evolved specialised sex cells, known as gametes, that are specific to each sex. Females produce and carry egg cells that, much like their vastly larger avian equivalents, contain both genetic information and form the nexus of an embryo. Females also have a dedicated sex organ called a uterus, which nurtures the embryo during its development Males provide the other half of the genetic information by producing sperm cells.