What type of cell is contained within pollen?

Pollen grains contain sperm cells, which are specialized male gametes in plants. During the process of reproduction in flowering plants, pollen grains are transferred to the stigma of flowers, where they germinate and form a pollen tube. This tube allows the sperm cells to travel down into the ovule, where fertilization occurs. The presence of sperm cells in pollen is a crucial part of the reproductive cycle, enabling the fusion with the egg cell to form a zygote, which will eventually develop into a seed.

In contrast, egg cells are found within the ovule, not the pollen. Somatic cells refer to all body cells excluding gametes, which are not involved in reproduction. Endosperm cells are part of the food storage for the developing embryo but are not contained within pollen. Thus, the presence of sperm cells within pollen grains is essential for the reproductive process in plants.