Sperm and egg compared

The idea

Male and female gametes differ greatly: sperm are very small, produced in millions, lack stored nutrients and are actively motile, while eggs are large, few, store nutrients and are non-motile, as in most animals.

Big and small

A sperm is very small. An egg is much larger.

What else do you think differs between the two?

• Their number, nutrients and movement
• Nothing else
• Only their colour

Sperm or egg?

Sort each feature into the right gamete.

Two different cells

The two gametes differ greatly in size, number and structure. This is seen across most animals.

Sperm are very small, produced in millions, lack stored nutrients and are actively motile. Eggs are large, few, store nutrients and are non-motile. Male and female gametes differ greatly, as in most animals.

• Feature | Sperm | Egg
• Size | Very small | Large
• Number produced | Millions | Few
• Stored nutrients | Absent | Present
• Motility | Actively motile | Non-motile

Notes

Sperm: very small, millions, no stored nutrients, motile. Egg: large, few, stored nutrients, non-motile.

Check yourself

Which gamete is produced in millions?

Which gamete stores nutrients?

Which gamete is non-motile?

Which statement is correct?

• Egg. Eggs are few in number.
• Both in equal numbers. The numbers differ greatly: sperm in millions, eggs few.
• Sperm — correct. Yes!
• Egg — correct. Yes!
• Sperm. Stored nutrients are absent in sperm.
• Neither. Stored nutrients are present in the egg.
• Sperm. Sperm are actively motile.
• Egg — correct. Yes!
• Both are actively motile. Only the sperm is actively motile. The egg is non-motile.
• Eggs are very small and sperm are large. It is the other way round. Sperm are very small and eggs are large.
• Sperm and eggs are the same in size. Male and female gametes differ greatly in size, number and structure.
• Sperm are very small and eggs are large — correct. Yes!