What is the Difference Between Male and Female Germ Cell?

The main difference between male and female germ cells lies in their chromosomal composition and the gametes they produce. Here are the key differences:

1. Chromosomes: Male germ cells, also known as sperm, are heterozygous with X and Y chromosomes (XY), while female germ cells, also known as ova or eggs, are homozygous with two X chromosomes (XX).
2. Gametes: Male germ cells produce sperm, which are male gametes involved in sexual reproduction. In contrast, female germ cells produce ova or eggs, which are female gametes involved in sexual reproduction.
3. Location of Synthesis: Male germ cells are developed in the seminiferous tubules of the male testis. Female germ cells, on the other hand, are developed in the ovaries of the female reproductive system.
4. Proliferation Waves: The female germ line has only one proliferation wave, known as the oogenic wave, whereas male gametogenesis involves two successive waves: prespermatogenic and spermatogenesis.
5. Germ Cell Kinetics: In the female germ line, oogonia are proliferating, while in the male germ line, multiplying or M prospermatogonia are proliferating.
6. Sex Determination: The sexual differentiation of germ cells into spermatozoa or oocytes is strictly regulated by their testis or ovary, which is determined by the presence or absence of the Y chromosome, respectively. In normal mammalian development, male germ cells differentiate in the presence of X and Y chromosomes, and female germ cells differentiate in the presence of two X chromosomes.

Comparative Table: Male vs Female Germ Cell

Here is a table comparing the differences between male and female germ cells:

Male germ cells, also known as sperm, are developed in the seminiferous tubules of the male testis, while female germ cells, also known as eggs or ova, are developed in the female ovaries. Male germ cells have a heterozygous pair of X and Y chromosomes, whereas female germ cells have a homozygous pair of X chromosomes. Sperm cells are small, motile cells with a distinct structure, whereas eggs are larger, non-motile cells with a spherical structure.