CHAPTER V 



THE BEGINNING OF LIFE 



An independent life starts by the union of the 

 sperm cell and ovum. The greatest miracle of 

 nature has now taken place, — conception. It 

 has been well said that at the instant of concep- 

 tion the gates of heredity are closed. 



It is wonderful to think that by a combination 

 of two tiny cells a life may be inaugurated that 

 can develop into a vigorous adult. When we 

 see a grown child bearing a striking physical 

 resemblance to one or both parents it is hard 

 to realize that this resemblance had its origin 

 in two minute germ cells through which have 

 passed the stream of heredity. 



The male cell is microscopic, the relation in 

 size being about as 100,000 to 1 in comparison 

 to the ovum. Yet this spermatozoan, micro- 

 scopic as it is, yields abundant energy and starts 

 life in the ovum which contains the material to 



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