Question

Define fertilization.

Answer 1

Hint:There are two types of reproduction – sexual and asexual. Asexual need only one parent to produce a progeny which will be identical to it. Bu in sexual reproduction, the necessity of two parents that also of the opposite sex is important. Here the progeny will be a mixed outcome of both the parents.

Complete answer: Fertilization is a process or action of fusion of male and female gametes. This will form a zygote which is the first cell of a progeny’s existence. This occurs in all the sexually reproductive organisms.
The process can be more complicated in higher organisms. Human fertilization complicates them all.
The female gamete usually called egg is fertilized with the male gamete usually called pollen of sperm. It happens in the female reproductive organ where the zygote will form.
The nutrition required by the zygote to develop is obtained from the mother’s blood in the case of living animals whereas in plants the nutrition is obtained from the endosperm.
A certain time will take to nurture the zygote and make a whole baby or seed, which can exist independently thereafter.
Thus fertilization forms the basic process of existence of life in the terms of reproduction.
Sometimes this whole process can take outside the female’s body as it happens in the eggs. The fertilization is external there. The baby develops in the eggs and comes out after a certain period.

Note: The term fertilization can be used in the field of agriculture. It is when we spray fertilizer to crops or soil. The process is called fertilization. Fertilizers are the artificial nutrients that we provide to the growing crop or soil for their better growth.