Science (086) — AI-generated practice question

(a) Male and female gametes differ as follows:

| Feature | Male Gamete (Sperm) | Female Gamete (Egg/Ovum) |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Very small | Much larger |
| Motility | Motile (has a tail/flagellum) | Non-motile |
| Food reserves | Very little | Abundant (yolk/cytoplasm) |

(b) The difference in size and structure is advantageous because division of labour is achieved — the male gamete is specialised for movement to reach the female gamete, while the female gamete stores food reserves to nourish the developing embryo after fertilisation. This ensures both efficient delivery of genetic material and adequate nutrition for early development.

(c) The cell formed by fusion of two gametes is called a zygote. Each gamete contains half the number of chromosomes (haploid). When they fuse, the zygote restores the full chromosome number (diploid) of the species. This ensures that chromosome number remains constant from one generation to the next.

Source: Chapter 7 – How do Organisms Reproduce?, Sections 7.1 and related reproductive biology content

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• (a) Examiners expect all three features compared clearly; a table format is efficient and earns full credit.
• (b) Key phrase: "division of labour" — motility vs. stored nutrition. Link both to survival advantage.
• (c) Must name "zygote" and use the terms haploid → diploid to score full marks. The chromosome-number maintenance point is the core of this sub-question.
• The source passages do not detail gamete biology explicitly, so standard NCERT Class 10 Biology content (Chapter 8 context of fertilisation) underpins parts (a)–(c); the chapter's fertilisation references confirm the zygote concept.