Gamete

Definition

A haploid reproductive cell that fuses with another gamete during fertilization to restore the diploid chromosome number in sexually reproducing organisms. In animals, male gametes (spermatozoa or sperm) are typically small and motile, while female gametes (ova or eggs) are larger and nutrient-rich. Gametes are produced through meiosis, which halves the chromosome complement and generates genetic diversity through recombination.

Etymology

From Greek gametēs 'husband' or gametē 'wife', from gamein 'to marry'; introduced by German cytologist Eduard Strasburger in 1878.

Example

In honey bees (Apis mellifera), haploid drones produce sperm gametes through an abortive meiosis that lacks recombination and segregation, yielding genetically identical sperm—an unusual system that contributes to the extreme relatedness among worker sisters.

Synonyms

• sex cell
• reproductive cell

Related Terms

• Meiosis
• Fertilization
• zygote
• haploid
• Diploid
• Spermatogenesis
• Oogenesis
• Parthenogenesis
• polyspermy

Usage Notes

The term applies broadly across eukaryotes but usage varies: in entomology, distinguishing automictic vs. apomictic parthenogenesis requires careful attention to whether functional gametes form at all. Some specialists reserve 'gamete' for cells that actually participate in syngamy, excluding abortive or polar bodies. Contrast with 'spore' in plants and fungi, where the term denotes dispersal rather than fusion function. In arachnology, male spiders package sperm into spermatophores or pedipalpal bulbs rather than delivering naked gametes, a behavioral distinction with taxonomic significance.