Question

The union of ovum and sperm is known as

• A. . Placentation
• B. . Ovulation
• C. . Folification
• D. . Fertilization

Hint:

Remember the distinct stages of reproduction: Ovulation (egg release), Fertilization (sperm-egg fusion), Implantation (zygote attachment), Placentation (placenta formation).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The union of a sperm and an egg is a defining event in sexual reproduction, and it can be recognised by what it produces genetically. Let's look at what each listed term means in that light.

1. Fertilization: When sperm and ovum fuse, each contributes half the normal number of chromosomes, restoring the full chromosome number in the new cell, the zygote. This genetic combination step is exactly what fertilization means, so it fits the question directly.
2. Ovulation: This only concerns the release of the egg from the ovary and does not involve the sperm or any genetic combination, so it cannot be the answer.
3. Placentation: This concerns forming a support structure for a pregnancy that already exists; it happens after fertilization and implantation, and involves the uterus rather than the gametes themselves.
4. Folification: There is no such recognised biological term, so it can be ruled out as a distractor with no real meaning.

Since fertilization is the only option describing sperm and egg genetically combining into a single cell, it is the process being asked about.

Therefore, the correct answer is Fertilization.