New
New
Year 8

Gametes and fertilisation in sexual reproduction

I can describe the role of gametes and fertilisation in sexual reproduction.

New
New
Year 8

Gametes and fertilisation in sexual reproduction

I can describe the role of gametes and fertilisation in sexual reproduction.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sperm and egg cells are the sex cells of humans and are called gametes.
  2. Humans reproduce through sexual reproduction where half the genetic material of the offspring comes from each parent.
  3. Fertilisation occurs in the fallopian tubes when gametes join to form a zygote.
  4. Each gamete carries half the genetic material of the parent; a zygote has a full set of genetic material.
  5. The zygote divides to form a ball of cells called an embryo, which grows to form a foetus and then a baby.

Keywords

  • Gametes - The sex cells in humans, which are egg and sperm cells.

  • Sperm cell - The male gamete.

  • Egg cell - The female gamete.

  • Fertilisation - Occurs when a sperm and egg cell fuse together to form a zygote.

  • Embryo - Formed when a zygote divides to form a ball of cells.

Common misconception

Fertilisation occurs in the uterus and can happen at any time.

Fertilisation occurs in the fallopian tubes and this can only happen before the egg cell reaches the uterus.

Ensure pupils understand that each gamete only carries half the genetic material of the parent, so that when two gametes fuse during fertilisation, the zygote that is formed has a full set of genetic material (the two halves from the two gametes added together).
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual content

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Where is the genetic information stored in an animal cell?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Nucleus
Q2.
Match up the cell to where it is produced.
Correct Answer:sperm,testes

testes

Correct Answer:egg,ovaries

ovaries

Q3.
How long is the gestation period of humans?
An image in a quiz
1 month
28 days
Correct answer: 9 months
1 year
Q4.
Which of these are changes that females go through during puberty?
voice deepens
Correct answer: ovaries start to release eggs
sperm is produced in the testes
Correct answer: ovaries produce hormones
Q5.
What is the process of producing offspring?
Correct Answer: Reproduction
Q6.
What are hormones?
organs
Correct answer: chemicals
tissues
cells

6 Questions

Q1.
What are sperm and egg cells known as?
Correct Answer: Gametes
Q2.
Who is incorrect?
Correct answer: Izzy: A zygote carries half of the genetic information.
Andeep: Sperm and egg cells are needed for human reproduction.
Correct answer: Sam: An egg cell carries all the genetic information of the parents.
Q3.
Which of these doesn't have 46 chromosomes?
zygote
Correct answer: egg cell
embryo
foetus
baby
Q4.
How many chromosomes will a lion's egg and sperm cells have? A lion's body cell contains 38 chromosomes.
An image in a quiz
38
Correct answer: 19
0
18
76
Q5.
Put the following stages of human development in the right order.
1 - zygote
2 - embryo
3 - foetus
4 - baby
Q6.
Where does fertilisation take place?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Fallopian tubes