Question

Egg activation marks a key point in development. In your answers to the following questions, discuss specific experiments to support the key facts you cite.

i. What molecular and morphological events occur in animals where an acrosomal reaction and/or sperm entry is required for egg activation, and what is the purpose of these events?

ii. What molecular and morphological events occur in animals where sperm entry and/or an acrosomal reaction is not required for egg activation, and what is the purpose of these events?

iii. What is the evolutionary significance of the events that are shared between the two types of egg activation discussed above? Specifically, discuss what types of signals are used and how they are set up.

Answer 1