With reference to the male and female gametes, consider the following...
The correct answer is option 'D', neither 1 nor 2. Let's understand why this is the correct answer by analyzing each statement:
1. A female gamete is smaller than a male gamete and likely to be motile.
This statement is incorrect. In most organisms, including humans, the female gamete, which is the egg or ovum, is larger than the male gamete, which is the sperm. The egg is a non-motile gamete and does not have the ability to move on its own. It is usually stationary and waits to be fertilized by a sperm.
2. Male gametes are large and contain food-stores.
This statement is also incorrect. Male gametes, or sperm, are actually much smaller than female gametes. Sperm are highly specialized cells that are adapted for swimming to reach and fertilize the egg. They are streamlined and have a flagellum, or tail, which allows them to move. Sperm do not contain food-stores. Instead, they are equipped with mitochondria that provide energy for their movement.
Explanation:
It is important to understand the basic differences between male and female gametes. Gametes are reproductive cells that fuse during fertilization to form a new individual. In most organisms, including humans, the male gamete is called sperm and the female gamete is called the egg or ovum.
- Size and Motility:
- The female gamete, or egg, is much larger in size compared to the male gamete, sperm.
- The egg is non-motile and does not possess the ability to move on its own.
- On the other hand, sperm are much smaller in size and possess a flagellum that allows them to swim and reach the egg for fertilization.
- Nutrient Stores:
- The statement that male gametes contain food-stores is incorrect.
- Sperm do not contain food-stores but are equipped with mitochondria that provide energy for their movement.
- The female gamete, or egg, contains nutrient stores in the form of yolk, which provides nourishment for the developing embryo.
- Fertilization:
- During fertilization, a sperm penetrates the egg and fuses with it to form a zygote, which eventually develops into an embryo.
- The egg provides the necessary nutrients for the initial stages of development until the embryo can establish its own nutrient supply.
Conclusion:
In summary, the correct answer is option 'D', as both statements given in the question are incorrect. The female gamete is larger than the male gamete and is non-motile, while male gametes, or sperm, are smaller, motile, and do not contain food-stores.
With reference to the male and female gametes, consider the following...
Conventionally, the motile germ cell is called the male gamete and the germ-cell containing the stored food is called the female gamete. One germ-cell is large and contains the food-stores while the other is smaller and likely to be motile.