Which term describes the female gamete?

Study for the Mississippi MAAP Biology Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The female gamete is specifically referred to as an egg. In sexual reproduction, male and female gametes fuse during fertilization to form a zygote. The egg is typically larger than the male gamete (sperm) and contains the nutrients required for the initial stages of development after fertilization. In most organisms, including humans and many other animals, this egg represents the female's contribution to the genetic material and is crucial for reproduction. The terms cell, sperm, and zygote do not specifically define the female gamete; the term "cell" is a general term for the basic unit of life, "sperm" refers to the male gamete, and a "zygote" is the result of the fusion of the male and female gametes. Thus, identifying the female gamete as the egg is essential in understanding the biology of reproduction.

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