OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

What defines male gametes in terms of movement?

1. They stay still

2. They move towards the female gamete

3. They multiply

4. They dissolve

The correct answer is: They move towards the female gamete

Male gametes, specifically sperm cells, are characterized by their motility, which is fundamental to their role in reproduction. Sperm are equipped with a whip-like tail called a flagellum that propels them through the reproductive tract towards the female gamete, which is an egg. This movement is crucial because the male gametes must navigate through the female reproductive system to reach and fertilize the egg. The ability to swim toward the egg is often guided by chemical signals released by the egg, a process known as chemotaxis. This movement ensures that sperm can successfully locate and unite with the egg, facilitating fertilization and the initiation of a new organism's development. Other options, such as staying still, multiplying, or dissolving, do not accurately represent the behavior or function of male gametes in the context of reproduction. While sperm do undergo a process of multiplication through meiosis during their development, this does not pertain to their movement.