In the context of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and agriculture, capacitation is the process required to make sperm competent for fertilization. This biological preparation involves biochemical and physiological changes that sperm undergo after leaving the male reproductive tract, enabling them to penetrate and fertilize the oocyte. Capacitation alters the sperm membrane, activates hyperactivation motility, and facilitates the acrosome reaction, which is essential for successful fertilization.
The other options, such as syngamy, parturition, and ovulation, refer to different reproductive processes:
Term | Description |
---|---|
Syngamy | The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote. |
Parturition | The process of giving birth. |
Ovulation | The release of an oocyte from the ovary. |
The correct answer is (A) Capacitation.
Capacitation is the process that sperm undergo in the female reproductive tract (or in vitro in laboratory conditions) to become capable of fertilizing an egg. It involves changes in the sperm's membrane and motility that allow it to penetrate and fertilize the oocyte (egg). This process is crucial for in vitro fertilization (IVF) to be successful.
Let's briefly go over the other options:
(B) Syngamy: This refers to the fusion of male and female gametes (sperm and egg) during fertilization, but it is not the process of making sperm competent for fertilization.
(C) Parturition: This refers to the act of giving birth, not related to the process of sperm becoming competent for fertilization.
(D) Ovulation: Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary, which is part of the female reproductive cycle, not the process related to sperm maturation.
Thus, the correct process required to make sperm competent for in vitro fertilization is (A) Capacitation.