What process describes events that follow the fertilization of an egg leading to the development of an embryo?

Embryogenesis is the process that occurs after the fertilization of an egg, leading to the development of an embryo. This includes a series of stages such as cell division, differentiation, and organ formation. Following fertilization, the zygote begins dividing through a process called cleavage, eventually forming a multicellular structure that continues to develop into an embryo. This process is essential for the establishment of a new organism and involves complex genetic and environmental interactions that guide development.

In contrast, oogenesis refers specifically to the development of egg cells in the ovaries and is a part of gamete production, rather than the subsequent steps that take place after fertilization. Spermatogenesis pertains to the formation of sperm cells and similarly does not describe what happens post-fertilization. Fertilization itself is the union of sperm and egg but does not encompass the subsequent development of the embryo. Thus, the term embryogenesis accurately captures the full scope of events following fertilization that lead to embryonic development.