One of my recent reads was about the mitochondria in the oocyte. The mitochondria is more than merely just the boring sentence “power house of a cell”. I mean, it is what it is but, there is more insight that goes into the phrase. It is known that mitochondria is of paramount importance with regard to the cell’s respiratory activities. However, what I did not know was that the mitochondrial DNA content is highly variable. In this, I talk mainly about the mitochondrial DNA content in oocyte aka the female gamete. Briefly, the oocyte develops from the primordial germ cell. Around the 5th week of gestation, these primordial germ cells migrate to the future gonads and begin proliferating to produce oogonia (surrounded by follicular cells) which then develops into the primary oocyte which is arrested at prophase 1 of meiosis 1.
The geometric clutch hypothesis is a brilliant paper that I read a few months back. Been wanting to write about it for quite some time now. This paper explains in detail about the motility of the spermatozoa (eukaryotic axonemal function) Just when I thought I was done with all the physics in school, the principle behind the motility of the spermatozoa is completely physical. The functioning of the sperm motility is almost equally compared with the functioning of a motor. Honestly I have never enjoyed reading the laws of physics so much as I was reading this paper. The male gamete is the only motile cell in a living organism that reproduces sexually.
Hormones are fascinating indeed. The function of each is so intricate which makes it even more unfathomable as to how perfectly they function in concert with each other in a normal self. Despite exposing this self to food, drugs and other chemicals. Since I am majoring in reproductive science I spend my time reading mostly related topics. Hence, I will be writing about the hormones respective to that. It is known that GnRH is secreted by the Hypothalamus which in turn stimulates the master gland, the pituitary to release the gonadotropins (a.k.a sex hormones) which then proceeds further in performing its various functions.