gameteja

Gameteja are specialized reproductive cells involved in sexual reproduction. They are typically haploid, containing a single set of chromosomes. In animals and many plants, they are formed by gametogenesis through meiosis in germ cells. During fertilization, two gameteja—usually a male and a female—fuse to form a diploid zygote, restoring the species' chromosome number and initiating development.

Types and examples: In animals, the male gamete is the sperm, the female is the ovum or egg cell. In flowering plants, the pollen grain carries the male gamete, while the female gamete is produced within ovules. In algae and fungi, analogous cells serve similar functions though the terminology differs by lineage.

Formation: Spermatogenesis and oogenesis generate male and female gameteja in animals. In plants, meiosis produces spores that mature into gametophytes, which generate gameteja. Variation arises from genetic recombination during meiosis and random fertilization.

Role and life cycle: Gameteja are essential for species propagation and genetic diversity. After fertilization, the zygote divides and grows into an embryo. The timing and method of fertilization vary: internal in many animals, external in many aquatic species, and dependent on pollen in plants.

Applications: In medicine and agriculture, gameteja handling includes cryopreservation of sperm and oocytes, assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF and ICSI, and breeding programs that use knowledge of gametogenesis and fertilization.