Fertilization is the process by which the sperm from a male's reproductive system joins with the egg from a female's reproductive system to form a zygote (a fertilized egg) that can develop into a fetus. This typically occurs when a sperm cell is able to penetrate the outer membrane of the egg, and their genetic material combines to form a single set of chromosomes that will direct the development of the new organism. Fertilization usually occurs in the fallopian tube of the female reproductive system, shortly after ovulation has occurred.
