What does gamete mean?
A gamete is a reproductive cell that carries genetic information and can fuse with another reproductive cell during fertilization. The resulting zygote contains a combination of genetic material inherited from both parents, creating the foundation for a new organism. Gametes are commonly described as haploid because they normally contain one set of chromosomes, whereas a zygote has two sets. In animals, the male gamete is a sperm cell and the female gamete is an egg cell; plants and many other organisms produce different forms of gametes, including motile cells that swim through water. The term is chiefly used in biology, genetics, medicine, and education, although discussions of reproduction and heredity often use it in accessible explanations. It is especially useful when a speaker wants to emphasize the cellular process of fertilization rather than identify a particular type of reproductive cell.
nounA reproductive cell, typically haploid, that fuses with another reproductive cell during fertilization to form a zygote. In sexual reproduction, gametes are produced by meiosis and carry genetic information from the parent.
- A reproductive cell that participates in fertilization by fusing with another reproductive cell to form a zygote.
"Each parent contributes a gamete carrying a unique combination of genetic material."
"Each parent contributes a gamete carrying a unique combination of genetic material."
"In flowering plants, the generative cell divides to produce two male gametes."
The standard plural is formed by adding -s; in formal biological writing, the plural gametes is also used unmodified before another noun.
"The two gametes fuse to form a zygote."
A gamete is a reproductive cell carrying a genetic passport: half a genome, ready to join another half and create something entirely new.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gamete come from?
The word comes through New Latin from Greek gamētēs, meaning “husband” or “spouse,” ultimately related to Greek gamos, meaning “marriage.” It entered English in the 19th century as a scientific term for a reproductive cell. Its derivatives, including gametic and gametogenesis, preserve the same Greek root.
Related word forms
How gamete is actually used
Gamete is primarily a formal scientific and educational term. It is used especially in biology, genetics, reproduction, and discussions of sexual reproduction.