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Edexcel IGCSE Biology · Spec 3.2

Fertilisation

What fertilisation is and how the male and female gametes join to form a zygote.

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Fertilisation

Spec 3.2

What you need to know

  • Identify animal and plant gametes accurately
  • Describe fertilisation as the fusion of male and female gamete nuclei
  • Know that fertilisation produces a single new cell called a zygote

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Quick check

Answer each question before opening the answer.

Define fertilisation.

The fusion of a male gamete nucleus with a female gamete nucleus to form a zygote.

How does the chromosome number of gametes compare with body cells?

Gametes are haploid (one set); body cells and the zygote are diploid (two sets).

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