受精卵
解説 Definition
精子と卵子が受精して形成される最初の細胞。生物の発生の出発点となる受精卵を指します。
A zygote is the first cell formed when a male and female sex cell join during reproduction. It is the earliest stage of a new living thing before it begins to grow into an embryo. This word is mainly used in biology and medical contexts.
使い方 Usage
- 可算名詞です。一つなら a zygote、特定の受精卵なら the zygote、複数なら zygotes と表します。 Zygote is countable: use a zygote for one, the zygote for a particular one, and zygotes for more than one.
使い分け Common distinctions
- zygote は受精してできた最初の細胞、embryo はその後の発生段階の胚を指します。 A zygote is the first cell formed by fertilization; an embryo is a later stage of development.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
sperm「精子」＋ egg「卵子」から zygote「受精卵」ができ、その後 embryo「胚」へ進む順序で覚えましょう。珍しい z で始まるつづりも、生物の発生を表す語と結びつける手掛かりになります。
Remember the sequence: sperm and egg form a zygote, which later develops into an embryo. The unusual initial z can also help you connect the word with biological development.
例文
A zygote forms when a sperm cell successfully fertilizes an egg cell.
精子が卵子を受精させると、受精卵が形成される。
Scientists studied the development of the zygote into an embryo under a microscope.
科学者たちは顕微鏡下で受精卵が胚に発生する過程を研究した。
zygote の類義語・関連語
zygote の語源・成り立ち Etymology
zygote はギリシャ語 zygotos「くびきでつながれた」に由来し、zyg- は「結びつける・つなぐ」語根です。精子と卵子が結合した直後の細胞を指すのは語源どおりで、yoke や zygomatic も同じ「結合」の発想を受け継ぎます。
Zygote comes from Greek zygotos, meaning joined or yoked, from a root meaning to tie together. The word was chosen for the cell formed when sperm and egg unite. Its history keeps the idea of joining very clearly. Related words include yoke and zygomatic, which also carry the sense of connection.
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