What is the term for the fertilization of an egg by many sperm?

Polyspermy refers to a phenomenon in which an egg is fertilized by multiple sperm cells. This term is significant in reproductive biology because typically, fertilization is intended to involve only one sperm and one egg. When multiple sperm attempt to penetrate the egg, it can lead to an abnormal number of chromosomes within the resulting zygote, which usually has serious implications for embryonic development.

In many species, mechanisms are in place to prevent polyspermy once the first sperm successfully fertilizes the egg. These mechanisms vary across different organisms but generally involve changes in the egg's membrane that block additional sperm from entering. Understanding polyspermy is crucial for learning about reproductive processes and the genetic implications of fertilization.

Other options like "Polysome," "Population," and "Positive feedback" refer to entirely different biological concepts and do not relate to the process of fertilization by multiple sperm. Polysomes, for instance, involve clusters of ribosomes translating mRNA, while population relates to groups of organisms, and positive feedback pertains to processes that amplify changes rather than a reproductive context.