Gamete Function

Gametes are reproductive cells produced in the male and female reproductive systems. They consist of a single set of chromosomes, and are the cells responsible for fertilization and the creation of a new individual. Gametes are haploid cells, meaning they have half the number of chromosomes as somatic cells. In humans, this means that the egg and sperm each contain 23 chromosomes. In males, gametes are produced in the testes through the process of meiosis. During meiosis, a diploid cell containing 46 chromosomes is split into four haploid cells, each containing 23 chromosomes. Two of the cells become sperm, while the other two become polar bodies. In females, gametes are produced in the ovaries through the same process of meiosis. Two of the cells become eggs, while the other two become polar bodies. During fertilization, an egg and a sperm fuse together to form a zygote. The zygote contains the full set of 46 chromosomes, and begins the process of cell division and development. The fusion of the egg and sperm is necessary for the genetic makeup of the individual, and the unique combination of genetic material from each parent is what makes each individual unique.