Zygote - GCSE Biology Definition
Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor
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A zygote is the first cell formed when a sperm cell from a male fertilises an egg cell from a female. It contains a complete set of genetic material, with half from each parent, creating a unique combination of DNA. The zygote is the starting point of a new organism and begins dividing by mitosis to form an embryo. In GCSE Biology, the zygote is important in understanding sexual reproduction, as it marks the beginning of development and explains how genetic variation arises in offspring.
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