Gamete

Gamete

A sperm cell fertilizing an egg cell

A gamete is a specialized cell involved in sexual reproduction. Gametes are haploid cells, meaning they contain one set of chromosomes. In humans and many other organisms, the two types of gametes are the sperm and the egg.

Types of Gametes

Sperm

Sperm cells are motile and designed to reach and fertilize the egg.

The sperm is the male gamete. It is typically motile and has a flagellum, which allows it to swim towards the egg. Sperm cells are produced in the testes through a process called spermatogenesis.

Egg

The egg, or ovum, is the female gamete. It is generally larger than the sperm and contains nutrients necessary for the early development of the embryo. Eggs are produced in the ovaries through a process called oogenesis.

Fertilization

Fertilization is the process by which a sperm cell and an egg cell combine to form a zygote. This process restores the diploid number of chromosomes and initiates the development of a new organism. Fertilization typically occurs in the fallopian tubes in humans.

Gametogenesis

Gametogenesis is the process by which gametes are produced. In males, this process is called spermatogenesis, and in females, it is called oogenesis. Both processes involve meiosis, a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half.

Related pages

• Meiosis
• Fertilization
• Spermatogenesis
• Oogenesis
• Zygote