What structure develops from the fertilized egg?

The correct answer is that the structure that develops from the fertilized egg is the embryo. When a sperm fertilizes an egg, the immediate result is a zygote, which represents the single cell formed by the union of the two gametes. However, as the zygote undergoes a series of divisions and developmental stages, it leads to the formation of an embryo.

The process begins with the zygote undergoing cleavage, transforming it first into a multicellular structure. As development continues, the embryo undergoes differentiation, where cells begin to specialize and form various tissues and organs. This embryonic development is crucial as it sets the foundation for the formation of a fully developed organism.

While the placenta is involved in supporting the embryo during its development, it is not formed directly from the fertilized egg but rather from maternal and embryonic tissues working together. Gametes refer to the reproductive cells (sperm and egg) themselves, which are not formed from the fertilized egg, and instead, are the cells that come together to create the zygote.