What is the Difference Between Monospermy and Polyspermy?

Monospermy and polyspermy are two types of fertilization in vertebrates. The main differences between them are:

• Monospermy: In this type of fertilization, only one sperm penetrates into the egg. This results in the creation of a diploid organism and is considered the normal fertilization process. Monospermy is ensured by various mechanisms, such as a micropyle (canal) on the hard chorion, through which only one sperm approaches the egg.
• Polyspermy: In this type of fertilization, more than one sperm penetrates into the egg. Polyspermy can be further classified into two categories:

In summary, monospermy is the typical fertilization process where one sperm fuses with an egg, resulting in a viable diploid organism. In contrast, polyspermy is an abnormality where multiple sperm fuse with an egg, often leading to adverse effects on the embryo and the production of non-viable or triploid/multiploid organisms.

Comparative Table: Monospermy vs Polyspermy

Here is a table comparing monospermy and polyspermy:

Monospermy is the normal fertilization process where an egg cell is fertilized by a single sperm cell, resulting in a diploid organism and a viable embryo. Polyspermy, on the other hand, is an abnormal fertilization process where an egg cell is fertilized by more than one sperm cell, leading to a triploid or multiploid organism and often producing a non-viable embryo.