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Spermatogenesis
In male animals,
each meiosis produces four equal-sized sperm
cells in a process called spermatogenesis. In
vertebrates, a cell type in the testes known as
a spermatogonium produces primary spermatocytes,
as well as additional spermatogonia, by mitosis.
The primary spermatocytes then undergo meiosis.
After the first meiotic division, these cells
are known as secondary spermatocytes; after the
second meiotic division, they are known as
spermatids. The spermatids mature into
spermatozoa by a process called spermiogenesis
with four sperm cells resulting from each
primary spermatocyte. In human beings and other
vertebrates without a specific mating season,
the process of spermatogenesis is continuous
throughout adult life. A normal human male may
produce several hundred million sperm cells per
day.
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