Question

The given figure shows more than one sperm near an egg during a stage of reproduction in animals.
Which of the following statements are correct regarding this?
(i) Female animals produce sperms.
(ii) Only one egg usually gets fertilized by many sperms.
(iii) After fertilization, egg contains the genetic materials of both parents.
(iv) Fusion of sperm and egg does not necessarily take place inside the female body.

• A. (i) and (ii)
• B. (ii) and (iv)
• C. (iii) and (iv)
• D. (i), (ii) and (iv)

Answer 1

The correct option is C (iii) and (iv)

Fertilization is the process in which a sperm cell (of male) fuses with the egg cell (of female) to form a zygote (diploid) which contains an equal amount of the genetic material from both sperm (haploid) and egg (haploid) i.e from both the parents.Fusion of sperm and egg. Depending upon the animal species, the process can occur within the body of the female (internal fertilization) or outside the female external fertilization). For example in humans, female show internal fertilization but in some amphibians like fish, female show external fertilization.

Sperm is produced by the male individual only not female. During the process of fertilization, only one sperm fuses to the egg. The egg plasma membrane rapidly depolarizes after the first sperm cell fuses with the egg cell to prevent polyspermy i.e., further fusing of sperm cells.