Fertilization is a process that occurs as a result of the fusion of the sperm with the egg. This fertilization leads to the creation of a new organism through sexual reproduction.
The new organism goes through various stages before being fully formed. Zygote and Embryo are two such stages that occur in the development of the human organism.
Key Takeaways
- Zygote is the single-celled structure formed by the fusion of sperm and egg, while the embryo is the multi-celled structure that develops from the zygote.
- The zygote is formed at the moment of fertilization, while the embryo is formed after the zygote undergoes several rounds of cell division.
- The zygote contains a complete set of genetic material from both parents, while the embryo may contain genetic abnormalities that can lead to congenital disabilities.
Zygote vs Embryo
A zygote is an initial cell that is formed when a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell, containing the complete set of genetic material from both parents and is the earliest stage of human development. An embryo is a developmental stage that follows the zygote and is considered a fetus.
The zygote is the first stage that takes place during the growth process of an organism. It is the original cell that is formed as a result of the union of the female’s ovum with the male’s sperm.
The word ‘Zygote’ has been derived from the Greek word ‘zygotos’, which translates to ‘join’ or ‘to join’.
On the other hand, the embryo is the phase that comes after the zygotic stage. This begins as soon as the first cell division occurs in the organism and continues up till birth.
The term ‘Embryo’ has its roots in the Latin word, ‘embryum’, which means ‘that which grows.’
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Zygote | Embryo |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The zygote is formed due to the union of male and female gametes. | The Embryo is one of the stages in the development of an organism. In humans, it occurs eight weeks after fertilization. |
| Cells | It is unicellular. | It is multicellular. |
| Derived from | The term zygote has been derived from the Greek word,’zygotos’ which means, ‘to join’. | The word embryo has been derived from the Latin word, ‘embryum’ which means, ‘that which grows’. |
| Medical terminology | The medical term for zygote is zygocyte. | The medical term for the embryo is a diploid eukaryote. |
| Process of formation | The Zygote is formed through the process of fertilization. | The Embryo is formed through the process of embryogenesis. |
| Results into | The Zygote undergoes mitosis, as a result of which turns into an embryo. | The Embryo continues to grow until the organism takes a fully formed shape, known as a fetus. |
What is Zygote?
When the male gamete sperm fuses with the female gamete, the egg, it creates a new organism. This organism, at the initial stage, is known as Zygote.
It is the first stage in the process of development of the new organism. In medical terms, a zygote is referred to as a zygote.
When fertilization between haploid ovum cells from the female and haploid sperm cells from the male happens, it is termed sexual reproduction. These two cells then join to create a single diploid cell, known as a zygote.
This zygote has only one cell, and hence it is called unicellular.
The zygote carries along with it the DNA of the parents as well as their genetic traits. It contains half the DNA of both the mother and father.
It is, therefore, the work of the zygote to dispense all the information regarding the genes that is essential for the growth of the newly formed organism.
The zygote undergoes mitosis. Mitosis is the process wherein a cell duplicates itself, thereby dividing itself into two identical daughter cells with the same genetic makeup.
This mitosis turns the zygote into an embryo. Hence, it enters the next stage in the development process.
What is Embryo?
The embryo is medically termed a diploid eukaryote. It is formed as a result of the division of the zygote.
This process is known as embryogenesis. The unicellular zygote undergoes mitosis to transform itself into a multi-cellular organism called an embryo.
This is the second phase that occurs during the development process of an organism after sexual reproduction begins. Usually, the embryonic stage begins after five days of fertilization.
The word embryo has its root in the Latin word, ‘embryum’, which means ‘that which grows.’
The embryonic stage is the phase that begins right after the first cell division is initiated. This period continues up until the organism is born.
Even though the term embryo is replaced with the term fetus, the cell division continues when the organism converts into a fully formed baby with legs, arms, etc..
The stage prior to the embryo is the zygote. This zygote contains half the DNA of both parents.
It is from this zygote that the embryo derives its entire genetic makeup. The process of the formation of an embryo is known as embryogenesis.
A zygote takes approximately five days to convert into an embryo after fertilization.
Main Differences Between Embryo and Zygote
- The zygote is the very first stage in the process of the growth of an organism, whereas the embryonic stage is the one that is succeeded by the zygote.
- Zygote has its roots in a Greek word which means ‘to join’ or ‘to be yoked’. On the other hand, embryo arises from the Latin word, ‘embryum’, which translates into ‘that which grows’.
- The zygote is formed due to the fusion of the male and female gametes, and on the contrary, the embryo is a result of the process of mitosis, under which the zygote divides into multiple cells.
- The zygote is a unicellular organism that eventually turns into a multi-cellular one, and when it does, it is called an embryo.
- The zygotic stage occurs immediately after fertilization, whereas the embryonic stage happens approximately after five days.
- The zygote converts into an embryo after undergoing the process of mitosis, and on the other hand, the embryonic stage continues up until birth happens.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1534580711000372
- https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/article-abstract/71/4/1046/2666924
Last Updated : 10 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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