Which of the following statements is true concerning fertilization in ALL animals? A) A single sperm must fertilize the egg. B) Fertilization must occur internally. C) Only gametes from the same species can go through fertilization successfully.
Answer (1)
When considering fertilization in all animals, it is important to understand the basics of this biological process. Fertilization is the union of a sperm cell from the male and an egg cell from the female to form a zygote, which eventually develops into a new organism.
Let's evaluate each statement one by one to determine which is true for all animals:
A) A single sperm must fertilize the egg.
While this is generally true for many species where the fusion of one sperm and one egg is required to ensure normal development, it is not universally true. In some lower organisms and certain plants, multiple sperms may fertilize an egg, though this is rare in the animal kingdom.
B) Fertilization must occur internally.
This statement is false because many species use external fertilization. For example, many aquatic animals like fish and amphibians release their gametes into the water, where fertilization occurs outside the bodies of the parents.
C) Only gametes from the same species can go through fertilization successfully.
This statement is generally true across the animal kingdom. Successful fertilization typically requires that the sperm and egg come from organisms of the same species, as they need to be compatible at a genetic and molecular level to merge and begin development. There are very specific exceptions in some hybrid species, but they are rare.
Therefore, the correct choice is C) Only gametes from the same species can go through fertilization successfully. This reflects the idea that for successful fertilization and development, biological compatibility between the gametes of the same species is crucial.
