gametti

Gametti (plural of gametto) are haploid reproductive cells that participate in sexual reproduction. They are produced by gametogenesis in specialized organs and fuse during fertilization to form a diploid zygote.

Types: In animals, the male gamete is the sperm (spermatozoon); the female gamete is the egg (ovum). In plants, the male gametophyte produces sperm carried by pollen; the female gametophyte contains the egg cell within the ovule.

Formation: Gametogenesis involves meiosis to generate haploid gametes, followed by maturation. In many animals, male gametes are produced continuously (spermatogenesis) and released; in females, eggs are produced during oogenesis and released during ovulation.

Fertilization and development: When two gametes unite, their nuclei fuse to form a zygote, restoring diploidy. The union also mixes genetic material, contributing to variation. In flowering plants, fertilization can involve double fertilization, yielding the zygote and the endosperm.

Gametti are central to sexual reproduction across kingdoms. They enable genetic recombination and the propagation of species, with variations in timing, location, and mechanisms among animals and plants.