Sex cells

The male and female sex cells have different shapes to help them do their jobs. They are said to
be adapted to their jobs.
Here is a list of how cells can be adapted. In the space next to each sentence write the words
sperm cell, egg cell, both or neither.
a

It has a tail to help it to swim.

__________________

It has a food store.

__________________

It has special hairs on it to help it push things along.

__________________

It contains half the information needed to make a new life.

__________________

It has special chemicals on the tip of its head

to help it get into things.

__________________

It has only a little cytoplasm so that it can have a thin,

streamlined shape.

__________________

On the diagrams below label where the adaptations in question 1 are found. Just use the
letters for the labels.

A sperm cell at a magnification of 1000.

An egg cell at a magnification of 500.

Look at the drawings of the sex cells above. On the lines below, write down how long or
wide each one is in real life.
A sperm cell is _____________ mm long. Its head is _____________ mm wide.
An egg cell is _____________ mm wide.

Year 7 2014-2015 Key Stage Science Unit: Reproduction