What is produced when an egg and sperm combine?

• A. Embryo
• B. Gamete
• C. Fertilized Egg
• D. Somatic Cell

Answer: (C)

When an egg and sperm combine during the process of fertilization, the immediate result is a fertilized egg, also known as a zygote. This single-cell stage marks the beginning of development, where the genetic material from both the egg and sperm is combined to form a new organism. The zygote undergoes multiple rounds of cell division and development, eventually leading to the formation of an embryo.

While the term "embryo" refers to the developmental stage that follows the zygote stage, it does not immediately occur at the point of sperm and egg fusion. Gametes refer to the reproductive cells (egg and sperm themselves) before fertilization, and somatic cells are the non-reproductive cells of the organism formed after multiple divisions of the fertilized egg. Thus, the most accurate description of the product of the combination of egg and sperm is a fertilized egg.