as the ovum develops

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as the ovum develops" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing biological processes, particularly in relation to reproduction and embryology. Example: "As the ovum develops, it undergoes several stages of maturation before fertilization occurs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As the ovum develops, the walls of the follicle expand by adding new cells.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It exhibits a specialized form of aplacental viviparity with oophagy: the females produce a single capsule in each uterus that contains 30 80 ova, of which one ovum develops into an embryo that consumes the rest of the ova and stores the yolk material in its external yolk sac.

Wikipedia

Reduce watering as the plant develops.

WikiHow

"The dogma underlying [the plea] is that as soon as the ovum is [fertilized], there is a person with a soul," says Charles Susanne, a retired biology and anthropology professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles who now studies bioethical issues.

Science Magazine

As the script developed he renamed it.

Wikipedia

One question about the fecundity of an ovum was developed with the same structure.

Human Reproduction

In birds, males are the homogametic sex (ZZ), while females produce gametes holding either of the sex chromosomes Z or W. Which one of the chromosomes is retained in the developing ovum is determined during completion of meiosis I, shortly before the ovarian follicle ovulates the oocyte into the infundibulum of the oviduct (Johnson 2000; Rutkowska and Badyaev 2008).

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

If neither sperm nor ovum are modified or if both are modified by the same degree, synchrony is restored and the embryo develops as usual.

Plosone

One of these two new cells is usually larger than the other and is known as the secondary ovum; the smaller cell is known as a polar body.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As the blood supply supporting the ovum decreases, hormonal support for the pregnancy declines, and the decidua (endometrial tissue modified for pregnancy) begins to slough off and is excreted vaginally.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One, the identification in 1827 by Prussian-Estonian embryologist Karl Ernst Ritter von Baer of the ovum (unfertilized egg) as a cell, was important considering the many ways it often differs from other cells.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the early stages of embryonic development or reproductive biology, use "as the ovum develops" to provide context for subsequent events or changes. This phrase is particularly useful in scientific and educational writing.

Common error

Avoid using "as the ovum develops" in contexts where you are discussing broader aspects of female reproductive health or fertility. This phrase is specific to the developmental stages of the ovum itself, not general reproductive processes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as the ovum develops" functions as an adverbial clause of time, setting a temporal context for subsequent events. It indicates that the action or state described in the main clause occurs concurrently with the ovum's development. Ludwig highlights that this construction is appropriate for describing biological processes.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

45%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

News & Media

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as the ovum develops" functions as an adverbial clause setting a specific timeframe in biological discussions. Ludwig indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and most commonly appears in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. While "egg cell" can be a more common alternative, "ovum" provides a formal and precise description. Given its relative infrequency, careful attention should be paid to ensure proper usage, avoiding overgeneralization and maintaining context-specific accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as the egg cell matures

Focuses on the maturation aspect using a more common term "egg cell" instead of "ovum".

during ovum development

Simplifies the structure to a prepositional phrase focusing on the developmental period.

when the ovum is developing

Rephrases as a temporal clause highlighting the time of development.

as the oocyte grows

Uses "oocyte", another term for the developing ovum, and focuses on growth.

while the ovum is maturing

Emphasizes the maturation process happening concurrently.

in the course of ovum's development

Highlights the progression of the ovum through its development stages.

with the ovum's progression

Focuses on the ovum's advancement through its developmental stages.

as the female gamete develops

Uses "female gamete" for a more formal and general term.

during the egg's maturation

Highlights the maturation of the egg cell.

while the egg cell is differentiating

Focuses on the differentiation aspect of the developing egg cell.

FAQs

What does "as the ovum develops" refer to in biology?

In biology, "as the ovum develops" refers to the stages of maturation and differentiation that a female egg cell undergoes, typically within the ovary and before fertilization. This involves changes in cell structure and function to prepare it for potential fertilization.

How can I use "as the ovum develops" in a sentence?

You can use "as the ovum develops" to introduce a description of the biological changes occurring in the egg cell. For example, "As the ovum develops, it accumulates nutrients and undergoes meiosis to become a mature egg ready for fertilization."

What is a more common term for "ovum"?

A more common term for "ovum" is "egg cell". You might consider using "as the egg develops" in less formal contexts.

Is it correct to use "egg" instead of "ovum" in all contexts?

While "egg" and "ovum" are often used interchangeably, "ovum" is more precise in scientific or medical contexts. In general writing, "egg" is acceptable, but in technical writing, "ovum" is preferred to maintain accuracy.