For each feature, say whether it belongs to the sperm, the ovum, or both…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
For each feature, say whether it belongs to the sperm, the ovum, or both.
- It has a cap of enzymes at the front.
- It stores food for the early embryo.
- It has chromosomes.
- It has a zona pellucida outside the plasma membrane.
- Many mitochondria lie in a middle piece.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
A sperm has a head with the acrosome, a neck, a middle piece with mitochondria and a tail. An ovum has a nucleus, cytoplasm with food, a plasma membrane, the zona pellucida and the corona radiata. Textbook tests for fertile semen: at least normal shape and size, and at least vigorous motility. A sperm and an ovum are haploid, with chromosomes.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) The sperm. The acrosome holds enzymes.
Step 2. (b) The ovum. Its large cytoplasm holds the food.
Step 3. (c) Both. Each is haploid, with chromosomes.
Step 4. (d) The ovum.
Step 5. (e) The sperm. The mitochondria give energy to the tail.
Answer: (a) sperm; (b) ovum; (c) both; (d) ovum; (e) sperm.
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