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I don't think there's such a difference between the two kinds of gametes. Things are quite symmetrical. - Sperm is as alive as ova: not alive. What is alive is
by jraph 2y ago
I don't think there's such a difference between the two kinds of gametes. Things are quite symmetrical.
- Sperm is as alive as ova: not alive. What is alive is the combination of the two, after some development.
- Both gametes contribute genetic material the same way.
- Their respective lines are as continuous.
> So, maybe the name change is to honour those soon dead?
Of course, the name change has sociological / political reasons. It cannot have such biological roots since the policies around names were there way before we discovered this stuff. I'm afraid the reasons why we keep the male name in many places are simpler and way less poetic.
- b112 2y agoI don't think there's such a difference between the two kinds of gametes One's a full cell with mitochondria, cell wall, and so on. The other just delivers genetic information. There's no symmetry. For example, all your mitochondria and its dna come from the female line. None from the male.
- jraph 2y agoYes, of course, there is a asymmetry. The shape and the material, of course. Another example is that while sperm is constantly produced, ova are all there since birth. But this part: > The cells which divided then, are the same cells as now Seems quite wrong. Ova of one woman obviously contains part her DNA, not her mother's unchanged. Now, I didn't know about the mitochondria part, interesting, thanks for teaching me!
- b112 2y agoOf course, the DNA is modified. It's a specialized cell, but cells are created by division or budding. The sperm is absorbed, the dna integrated, but the cell itself, all of the cell aspect is from the woman. Our DNA is certainly there, but that's not the same as a continuous line of cells. Anyhow, it's one way to view things.