The head and intermediate segment of the spermatozoid, being now buried in the yolk of the ovum, become surrounded with a radiate formation of the granular protoplasm, which appears like a star, and their metamorphosis results in what is called the male pronucleus, which fuses with the female pronucleus, and the two together form the new nucleus of the fertilized ovum, in which are initiated all the activities which finally result in the development of a human being. This impregnated ovum, though yet a single cell, is entirely different from the simple ovum.
"SMALL PORTIONS OP THE OYCJM OF ASTEBIAS GLACIALIS".
Fig. IV., a promt nence is seen rising from the surface of the ovum toward the nearest spermato zoon.
Fig. V., the prominence and spermatozoon have met. (From Balfour's "Comparative Embryology", p. 65.)
Now a new human life has sprung into existence, and this impregnated ovum is the starting point in each individual's life history.
Such work seems to be indicative of superhuman power indeed, but we do not call it a miracle simply because it violates none of Nature's laws, and is so frequently repeated; and yet from its infinitude of repetition throughout Nature, these wonderful manifestations would seem to proclaim that there is a Creator in the Universe far more convincingly than if the phenomena had only been observed once and labelled a "miracle".
This single cell has, within the short space of a few hours, become an exceedingly interesting new human individual; and we must insist that if a man will take the pains to inform himself on the rudiments of embryology, he cannot run the risk of allowing any of his spermatozoids to meet within an ovum of any woman but his wife, unless he is either an abandoned man or a fool; for after the semen has left him, he no longer has the slightest control over a single one of the myriads of reproductive elements, all of which are independently and automatically striving to their utmost to f ertilize the ovum, which has independently done everything in its power to prepare itself for the admission of the head of a spermatozoid into its yolk - substance, and to fuse with it.
"Ovum of Asterias Glacialis, with male and female pronucleus and a radial striation of the protoplasm around the former".
(From Balfour's "Comparative Embryology", p. 66.)
The earliest beginning of life, then, is the impregnated ovum, or germ-cell, which has the morphological value of a single cell, and is endowed with the capacity to germinate into the next stage, which embryologiste designate the embryo-stage.