Definition: A gamete is a mature haploid reproductive cell that unites with another from the opposite sex to form a zygote. Gametes are fundamental to sexual reproduction and include sperm cells in males and egg cells in females.
Etymology & Origin: The term ‘gamete’ was derived from the Greek word ‘gametēs,’ meaning ‘husband’ or ‘wife,’ and ‘gametos,’ meaning ‘married.’ It was introduced into English in the late 19th century to describe the cells involved in sexual reproduction, emphasizing their role in pairing to initiate the development of a new organism.
Examples:
- In humans, the male gamete is called a spermatozoon, and the female gamete is called an ovum.
- The fusion of gametes during fertilization leads to genetic diversity in offspring, which is a key advantage of sexual reproduction.
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