Final answer:
In animal cells, fertilization of haploid gametes results in a diploid zygote, which is the initial cell that will develop into a multicellular organism.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of animal cells, the sequence of meiosis and fertilization plays a crucial role in sexual reproduction, ensuring genetic diversity and continuation of the species.
During meiosis, a type of cell division, haploid gametes (sperm and egg cells) are formed from diploid germ cells. Each gamete contains one set of chromosomes, making it haploid (1n). Meiosis is divided into two stages, meiosis I and meiosis II, with each stage comprising four phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
Fertilization is the process where a sperm and an egg unite, resulting in a zygote. The correct answer to the student's question is C. Zygote. This zygote will then undergo numerous rounds of mitosis to become a multicellular organism. The fusion of gametes to form a zygote doubles the chromosome number, restoring the diploid state (2n). Therefore, fertilization in animal cells results in a zygote, not spores, gametophytes, sporophytes, or clones.