Oogenesis

Just now, I finished reading about oogenesis in Patten's Foundations of Embryology. I can't help but feel amazed at how remarkably efficient and systematic the creation of the egg is. It's as if the egg knows exactly what it needs for a successful zygote to grow and develop. It begins preparing for all the wonderful events which follow as early as before fertilization. That is, when sperm fertilizes the egg, it's 100% ready! The preparation for new life is done way, way, way in advance.

It prepares a ton of mitochondria for energy, synthesizes a lot of ribosomal RNAs in preparation for intense protein synthesis, it prepares an adequate supply of lipochondria and glycogen granules in its yolk as a source of lipids and carbohydrates respectively, and it ensures adequate protection based on the reproductive habits of the animal in question (for example, frogs undergo external fertilization where they spawn their eggs outside their body -- the structural adaptations of the amphibian oocyte is apparent).

As compared to sperm, whose one job is to deliver the other half of the genome (and whose genesis also reflects this function) the egg assumes responsibility for pretty much everything else and I think that's beautiful. The mechanisms of preparation of the egg are so profound.

It's just so amazing how so much thought has been put into the development of an organism. Life is truly a miracle, and there truly must be some Creator who dictates these highly organized, well-regulated steps in development.