LIFE+BOOK+PHOTOS

The testes, the male sex glands producing hormones and sperm.

As the sperm approach maturaty, the rounded cells become more streamlined.

Millions of sperm are produced in the testes on a daily basis.

Cross-section of a mature sperm containing tightly packed genetic information.

An area in the epididymis to which the sperm have been transported by fluid. Here the tails grow and become capable of propulsion.

Semen containing millions of sperm swimming towards the opening of the cervix.

The Fallopian tube near the connection to the flower-like ovary.

The egg, surrounded by nutrient cells, being shuttled into the funnel of the Fallopian tube.

The egg in the Fallopian tube, where it remains for 24 hours in readiness for fertilization by a single sperm.

This photo is taken 2-4 hours after ejaculation. Notice the stronger sperm cells breaking away from the pack en route to fertilize the egg in the fallopian tube (the sperm are pre-destined or programed to find and embed themselves in the egg - fertilization).

This photo is taken 3-7 hours after ejaculation. Before a sperm can penetrate the ovum, remaining nutrient cells surrounding the egg are cleared by an army of invading sperm.

Several sperm reach the gap between the outer shell and egg membrane but only one can fertilize the egg. Once a single sperm has penetrated the egg, the egg quickly develops a protective shell that repels other sperm from penetrating the egg.

3-7 hours from ejaculation: the sperm, visible at the bottom left, and the egg.

3-7 hours from ejaculation: the sperm and the egg.

The successful sperm. This is the moment of conception.

The fertilized egg is now a **blastocyst** containing many cells. The cell has divided multiple times to create precise copies of itself. Cell division is the fundamental process in the creation of life. The photo above shows the blastocyst entering the womb where it will embed itself in the mucous membrane of the uterus (called "hatching") and start to grow into a fetus.

The fertilized egg, now called an embryo, embeds itself into the uterine wall where it will grow for the duration of the pregnancy. Here it is protected and nourished. Note that this embryo is performing "cell differentiation" which is the blueprint or mapping for all parts of the human anatomy including muscles, brain cells, etc. Each cell knows exactly what it will become and what it will be used for.

4 days: the Morula stage. The clump consists of 25 to 30 cells.

At 16 weeks.

A fetus at 20 weeks.

At 36 weeks.