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Developmental biology

Sperm–egg fusion unscrambled

The identity of the sperm molecules that are involved in fusion with an egg's membrane has eluded biologists. Will Izumo, a protein named after the Japanese shrine to marriage, bring harmony to the field?

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Figure 1: Events leading to fertilization.

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Schultz, R., Williams, C. Sperm–egg fusion unscrambled. Nature 434, 152–153 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/434152a

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