Compare and contrast three ways in which sperm cells and egg cells are specialised for their functions

Both sperm cells and egg cells contain a haploid nucleus, this means that they contain half the number of chromosomes of a normal diploid cell. This is so that when the egg is fertilised by the sperm there are 46 chromosomes and it becomes a diploid nucleus. One other way in which sperm cells are specialised is the presence of a tail, allowing movement, as well as a lot of mitochondria, which is the organelle where respiration takes place, which gives the sperm more energy for this movement.  These two features allow the sperm cell to travel the long distance towards the egg cell. Egg cells however, do not require this mobility and are specialised by being much larger, allowing room for nutrients in the cytoplasm which are needed after fertilisation in order for the zygote to grow and multiply. Another specialisation of the sperm cell is the acrosome, which contains enzymes which dissolve the cell membrane of the egg and allows the sperm to fuse with the egg cell. The egg cell is specialised in a way that once this occurs the egg cell membrane reacts and prevents other sperm from entering.