What are the functions of male and female sex cells?

Human sex cells, sometimes called gametes, are one of the directions of cell differentiation. They are specialized in performing exclusively reproductive functions, which completely determines their structure. Consider these cells in detail, and detail about what the functions of male and female sex cells.

Features of the gamete structure

Sex cells, in comparison with the usual, somatic, have many differences. The most important of these is the haploid set of chromosomes, which is located directly in the nuclei of the sex cells themselves. This ensures reproduction in the zygote of a typical diploid set of chromosomes for the organism, i.e. half of the mother, half of the father.

Also gametes differ from other cells by an unusual relationship between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Moreover, in spermatozoa it is higher than in oocytes. This is primarily due to the fact that in spermatozoa the amount of cytoplasm is small, in comparison with the ovule, which contains a large number of it with nutrients for the development of the embryo.

In addition, unlike somatic cells, the sex cells are characterized by a low level of metabolic processes.

What are the functions of the male sex cells?

The main and, perhaps, the only function of spermatozoa, is reproductive. Sperm, merging with the egg, present them with their haploid set of chromosomes, which is necessary for the development of the embryo.

You can also say that it is the male sexual cell that determines the sex of the future baby.

What are the functions of female sex cells?

In comparison with the male sexual cell, whose functions consist only in fertilization of the egg and the provision of genetic material to it, female reproductive cells play a big role in conception.

So, it is the egg that provides the fetus with nutrients to the future, carrying out the trophic function, in addition, the egg shell before the formation of the zygote also performs a protective function.