Gametes and sites of production

• Cells are diploid, except gametes, which are haploid.
• In animals, the gametes are egg (female) and sperm (male).
• Eggs are produced in the ovary and sperm in the testes.
• In plants, the gametes are ovule (female) and pollen (male).
• Ovules are produced in the ovary and pollen in the anther.

Sperm and egg cells

• Egg cells are much larger than sperm.
• Sperm have a tail to help them swim towards the egg.
• Both have a nucleus.

Fertilisation is the fusion of the nuclei of the two haploid gametes to produce a diploid zygote, which divides to form an embryo.

Topic Summary