Video Transcript
The diagram shows the basic
structure of a sperm cell. In what part of the sperm cell is
the genetic material contained? (A) The midpiece, (B) the nucleus,
or (C) the tail.
Sperm cells are the male
reproductive cells, or gametes. The function of the sperm cell is
to fertilize the female gamete, the egg cell, or ovum. You may already know that during
sexual intercourse, sperm cells are released from the penis into the female
vagina. The sperm cell must then move
through the female reproductive system to reach the egg cell in order for
fertilization to occur. The sperm cell is highly adapted to
help it carry out its job of fertilizing the egg cell.
As shown in the diagram, the basic
structure of the sperm cell includes a head, midpiece, and a long tail. The long tail is a very important
adaptation of this gamete, as it is the tail that propels the sperm cell on its
journey to the egg cell. The midpiece of the sperm cell
contains the mitochondria, which are often referred to as the powerhouses of the
cell. The mitochondria release the energy
the sperm cell needs to travel through the female reproductive system towards the
egg cell.
The head of the sperm cell contains
the nucleus. You may already know that the
nucleus of a cell is where the genetic material is stored. So the answer to the question “In
what part of the sperm cell is the genetic material contained?” is given in answer
choice (B), the nucleus.
