Science glossary film: Ovum

Or egg, is the unfertilised female reproductive cell. An ovum is a haploid cell, containing half of the genetic material required for a new individual. In higher animals such as mammals, ova are produced in structures called the ovaries. They are generally the biggest cells in the body – in humans, just about big enough to be visible to the naked eye.

An ovum is a haploid cell, containing half of the genetic material required for a new individual. In higher animals such as mammals, ova are produced in structures called the ovaries. They are generally the biggest cells in the body – in humans, just about big enough to be visible to the naked eye.