18. FERTILIZATION Fusion Of Genetic Material: In sea urchin ----♀pronucleus already haploid, ♂ pronucleus decondenses, fuse to form zygote nuclei (diploid). In mammals at fertilization ♀ nucleus at metaphase of 2nd meiotic division, calcium inactivates MAP kinase & DNA synthesis ensues. Two pronucei move towards each other: no envelope break down & chromosomes come on spindle (so true diploid nucleus is NOT formed in zygote but after first division) Fertilization May 21, 2010