Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
antifertilizin

antifertilizin

9.9
A chemical made by sperm that helps sperm find and react with an egg before they join
  • noun
  • /ˌæntiˈfɜrˌtɪlɪˌzaɪn/
  • Specialized
: antifertilicina
  • The interaction between fertilizin and antifertilizin helps ensure species-specific sperm-egg recognition.

Examples

  • When the production of antifertilizin is disrupted, successful fertilization rates decrease significantly.

  • Researchers discovered that antifertilizin is crucial for egg attraction.

  • Researchers discovered that antifertilizin plays a crucial role in the early stages of fertilization.

  • The study focused on the role of antifertilizin in reproduction.

  • The interaction between fertilizin and antifertilizin helps ensure species-specific sperm-egg recognition.

  • When the production of antifertilizin is disrupted, successful fertilization rates decrease significantly.

  • Researchers discovered that antifertilizin plays a crucial role in the early stages of fertilization.

Surface Forms

antifertilizin singular
antifertilizins plural

Morphology

antifertilizin = fertilizin (opaque) = anti + fertilizin

The word is formally built from anti- plus the technical term fertilizin, but the specialized biological meaning is not readily inferable for an average learner.

Etymology

Antifertilizin combines anti- meaning 'against' and fertilize (as in fertile) meaning 'to make able to have young'. So an antifertilizin is a substance that reacts with the egg before it is fertilized, acting at the moment of fertilization.