In sexual reproduction, what term describes the union of sperm with an egg to form the first cell of a new organism?

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Multiple Choice

In sexual reproduction, what term describes the union of sperm with an egg to form the first cell of a new organism?

Explanation:
Fertilization is the moment when a sperm fuses with an egg, joining their genetic material to form the first cell of a new organism. This merge restores the diploid chromosome number by combining one set from each parent, creating the zygote—the very first cell that will start the organism’s development. Crossing over happens later during meiosis as chromosomes exchange segments to increase genetic variation, not at the moment of making the first cell. A zygote is the product after fertilization, not the process itself, and haploid describes gametes with a single chromosome set, not the union event.

Fertilization is the moment when a sperm fuses with an egg, joining their genetic material to form the first cell of a new organism. This merge restores the diploid chromosome number by combining one set from each parent, creating the zygote—the very first cell that will start the organism’s development. Crossing over happens later during meiosis as chromosomes exchange segments to increase genetic variation, not at the moment of making the first cell. A zygote is the product after fertilization, not the process itself, and haploid describes gametes with a single chromosome set, not the union event.

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