Fertilization is not a single event but a series of interactions between the egg and sperm which lead to the eventual joining of nuclear materials to establish the hereditary constitution of the early embryo. Many of the events comprising the phenomenon of fertilization are fundamentally the same throughout the animal kingdom and provide a common thread tying together aspects unique to different groups. In this book, the author employs a comparative approach by highlighting the differences and similarities between fertilization mechanisms in mammals, non-mammals and invertebrates. Since the publication of the first edition of this successful book, there has been a considerable increase in our understanding of fertilization mechanisms in animals. This revised edition describes the application of new technologies which are unique to the field itself, and how they relate to cellular processes in general. The author discusses the application of new methods and concepts (for example those of cellular and molecular biology) which have made a significant impact on our understanding of fertilization mechanisms, and presents new information regarding in vitro fertilization in mammals. Key features: - Discusses all aspects of fertilization and processes of gametogenes and embryogenesis which directly relate to fertilization - The most comprehensive and up-to-date text currently available - Compares and contrasts fertilization events in a wide variety of invertebrates and vertebrates This book will prove invaluable to advanced undergraduates, graduates and those researching or working within the fields of developmental biology, cell biology, physiology and zoology.