PSYC 2076 Chapter : Child Development Chapter 3
Document Summary
Chapter 3 the start of life: genetics and prenatal development: earliest development gametes sex cells that form a new cell at conception. Once that one lucky sperm cell penetrates the membrane of the ovum, together they create a zygote. zygote new cell formed by process of fertilization. Chromosomes genes grouped into these; rod-shaped portions of dna. Chromosomes determine everything from hair color and eye color to sex. Whether you are a male or female depends on the presence or absence of certain chromosomes. heterogametic - contain one of two types of sex chromosomes. Sex chromosomes x-y: male gametes or sperm cells in humans and other mammals are gametes or eggs however, contain only the x sex chromosome and are homogamatic. The sperm cell determines the sex of an individual in this case. If a sperm cell containing an x chromosome fertilizes an egg, the resulting zygote will be xx or female.
