HUMAN EMBRYOLOGY AND
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY SEVENTH
EDITION EXAM PAPER 2026 VERIFIED
ANSWERS FULL DEVELOPMENTAL STUDY
GUIDE REVISION MODULE
◉ ovum
Answer: secondary oocyte
◉ 2 major goals of fertilization
Answer: 1) combining genes derived from two parents
2) creation of a new organism
◉ major events of fertilization
Answer: 1) contact and recognition of same species
2) regulation of sperm entry into the egg
3) fusion of genetic material --> pronuclei
4) activation of egg metabolism to start development
◉ structure of sperm
,Answer: 1. acrosome at the anterior part of the head
2. condensed haploid nucleus
3. midpiece
4. flagellum tail
5. plasma membrane
◉ acrosome
Answer: specialized lysosome from the cell's Golgi apparatus
◉ how does the acrosome help the sperm penetrate the egg's outer
coat?
Answer: hydrolytic enzymes
◉ acrosome reaction
Answer: exocytosis of hydrolytic enzymes in vesicle when sperm
contacts an egg
◉ axoneme
Answer: core of flagellum sperm tail
◉ structure of axoneme
,Answer: 2 single microtubules surrounded by 9 doublet
microtubules
◉ how do flagellar move?
Answer: propulsion: dynein proteins hydrolyze ATP for energy
◉ what produces flagellum?
Answer: centrioles
◉ Kartagener's syndrome
Answer: individuals lack functional dynein in ciliated/flagellated
cells, rendering these structures immotile - autosomal recessive
◉ features of Kartagener's syndrome
Answer: 1. situs inversus (heart defect)
2. chronic sinusitis
3. bronchiectasis (recurrent chest infections)
4. infertility
◉ how do mammalian germ cells modify to form sperm?
Answer: almost all of the cell's cytoplasm is eliminated during sperm
maturation, leaving only certain organelles that are modified for
spermatic function + DNA compresses
, ◉ oocyte vs. ovum
Answer: - oocyte is developing and canNOT be fertilized
- ovum is secondary oocyte that CAN be fertilized
◉ materials an oocyte accumulates during development
Answer: 1. nutritive protein (ex: yolk)
2. mRNA
3. ribosomes + tRNA
4. morphogenetic factors
5. protective chemicals (UV filters, DNA repair enzymes, bad tasting
chemicals, antibodies)
◉ the egg contains: (8)
Answer: 1. haploid nucleus
2. yolky cytoplasm
3. mitochondria
4. cortical granules
5. modified smooth ER compartment for sequestering Ca
6. plasma membrane
7. vitelline membrane
8. jelly layer
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY SEVENTH
EDITION EXAM PAPER 2026 VERIFIED
ANSWERS FULL DEVELOPMENTAL STUDY
GUIDE REVISION MODULE
◉ ovum
Answer: secondary oocyte
◉ 2 major goals of fertilization
Answer: 1) combining genes derived from two parents
2) creation of a new organism
◉ major events of fertilization
Answer: 1) contact and recognition of same species
2) regulation of sperm entry into the egg
3) fusion of genetic material --> pronuclei
4) activation of egg metabolism to start development
◉ structure of sperm
,Answer: 1. acrosome at the anterior part of the head
2. condensed haploid nucleus
3. midpiece
4. flagellum tail
5. plasma membrane
◉ acrosome
Answer: specialized lysosome from the cell's Golgi apparatus
◉ how does the acrosome help the sperm penetrate the egg's outer
coat?
Answer: hydrolytic enzymes
◉ acrosome reaction
Answer: exocytosis of hydrolytic enzymes in vesicle when sperm
contacts an egg
◉ axoneme
Answer: core of flagellum sperm tail
◉ structure of axoneme
,Answer: 2 single microtubules surrounded by 9 doublet
microtubules
◉ how do flagellar move?
Answer: propulsion: dynein proteins hydrolyze ATP for energy
◉ what produces flagellum?
Answer: centrioles
◉ Kartagener's syndrome
Answer: individuals lack functional dynein in ciliated/flagellated
cells, rendering these structures immotile - autosomal recessive
◉ features of Kartagener's syndrome
Answer: 1. situs inversus (heart defect)
2. chronic sinusitis
3. bronchiectasis (recurrent chest infections)
4. infertility
◉ how do mammalian germ cells modify to form sperm?
Answer: almost all of the cell's cytoplasm is eliminated during sperm
maturation, leaving only certain organelles that are modified for
spermatic function + DNA compresses
, ◉ oocyte vs. ovum
Answer: - oocyte is developing and canNOT be fertilized
- ovum is secondary oocyte that CAN be fertilized
◉ materials an oocyte accumulates during development
Answer: 1. nutritive protein (ex: yolk)
2. mRNA
3. ribosomes + tRNA
4. morphogenetic factors
5. protective chemicals (UV filters, DNA repair enzymes, bad tasting
chemicals, antibodies)
◉ the egg contains: (8)
Answer: 1. haploid nucleus
2. yolky cytoplasm
3. mitochondria
4. cortical granules
5. modified smooth ER compartment for sequestering Ca
6. plasma membrane
7. vitelline membrane
8. jelly layer
