Fertilized Eggs Defy Nature: Sea Urchins Can Be Re-Fertilized
Sea urchin eggs can be fertilized again even after the first fertilization. Sperm can enter the eggs and affect how they divide, causing irregular cleavage. The eggs can be re-fertilized without removing a membrane if they are treated with a special solution. This re-fertilization can happen at different stages of cell division. The eggs have a substance on their surface that can prevent more sperm from entering, but this substance can be lost in certain conditions.