Gametes Definition, Types, Formation in Plants and Animals
Gametes are reproductive cells, also known as sex cells, in plants and animals. As shown in the article below, NEET aspirants can study gametes' definitions, types, formations, and ploidy in both animals and plants.
Krati Saraswat30 May, 2025
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Gametes Meaning: Gametes are specialized cells involved in sexual reproduction. They fuse during fertilisation to form a zygote, the initial cell of a new organism. In sexual reproduction, male gametes, known as sperm, and female gametes, known as ova or eggs, are essential. Sperm are motile cells equipped with a flagellum to move towards the egg. In contrast, ova are non-motile and relatively larger compared to sperm.
In plants that reproduce through seeds, pollen is the male gametophyte, producing sperm cells. Female sex cells, or eggs, are housed within ovules. In animals, gametes are produced in the gonads, the organs responsible for hormone production. Understanding how gametes function and reproduce is essential in comprehending the process of sexual reproduction in organisms. The article below provides NEET Biology Notes on the gametes definition, Types, examples, formation, and more.Gametes Definition
A gamete is a mature reproductive cell that contains a single set of chromosomes, representing 50% of the genetic material. It can combine with another gamete to form a zygote, the initial cell formed when two gametes fuse during fertilisation. This process involves the fusion of a male gamete, known as a sperm cell, with a female gamete, known as an ovum or egg cell. Usually, the female gamete is larger and non-motile, while the male gamete is smaller and motile. Each gamete contains 23 chromosomes in humans, and their fusion results in a diploid zygote with 46 chromosomes. Animals produce these reproductive cells in their respective male and female gonads or reproductive organs. In seed-bearing plants, pollen acts as the male gamete and the female gametes are located within ovules. However, the gamete may not always be a haploid cell in plants, as some plants have mechanisms that result in polyploidy.Gametes Types
Gametes Types are as follows:- Isogamy: In this type of gamete fusion, the gametes are similar in morphology, meaning they have the same size and shape. This condition is also known as "heterogamy." Isogamous gametes are not classified as male or female but are represented as "+" or "-." Examples include the gametes of unicellular algae such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Carteria palmata.
- Anisogamy: This involves gametes with different morphologies, specifically in size and shape. Anisogamous gametes are classified as male and female, with the smaller gamete being the sperm or male gamete, and the larger gamete being the ova, egg, or female gamete. Anisogamous gametes can be motile or non-motile.
- Oogamy: In this type, one gamete (sperm) is motile, while the other (egg) is non-motile. This is the case in humans and mammals, where a motile sperm fertilise a non-motile egg to form a zygote.
- Microgametes and Macrogametes: Gametes can also be classified based on size. Microgametes are smaller, motile gametes produced in large numbers without nutrient storage, such as sperm cells. Macrogametes, on the other hand, are larger, non-motile gametes produced in limited numbers with a significant nutrient store, like egg cells or ova.
Gametes Formation
Gametes, also known as sex cells, are reproductive cells that carry half of an organism's genetic information. They merge during sexual reproduction to form a new organism. In animals, gametes are produced in the gonads, which are also responsible for hormone production. The male gamete is a sperm, and the female gamete is an egg or ovum. Sperm cells are small and motile, while egg cells are non-motile and larger. Gametes are created through a special cell division process called meiosis, which is a two-step cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half. This reduction is crucial because when a sperm fertilises an egg, the resulting zygote needs to have the correct chromosome number. Meiosis involves the following steps:- Replication: During meiosis I, a diploid germ cell replicates its DNA, resulting in each chromosome having two sister chromatids.
- Pairing and Crossing Over: Homologous chromosomes (chromosomes that code for the same traits) pair up and exchange sections of their DNA in crossing over. This genetic exchange increases genetic diversity in offspring.
- Separation of Homologous Chromosomes: Homologous chromosomes then separate and move to opposite ends of the dividing cell.
- Meiosis II: In this step, the sister chromatids are separated and move to opposite sides of the dividing cell, resulting in four haploid daughter cells.
Gametes in Plants
Plants, much like animals, engage in sexual reproduction through the fusion of male and female gametes. However, in contrast to animals, plant gametes are relatively simple. In plants, male gametes are found within sperm cells enclosed in pollen grains. These pollen grains develop in the anthers of flowers, which serve as the male reproductive organs in flowering plants. On the other hand, female gametes are egg cells located in the ovules within the ovary of the flower, the female reproductive organ. While motile sperm cells are common in animals, certain plant groups such as cycads and ginkgo biloba also possess motile sperm cells. These sperm cells have flagella, which they use to swim towards the egg cell for fertilisation. However, in flowering plants, pollen grains are non-motile and depend on external factors like wind, water, or animals for transportation to the female reproductive organ.Gametes in Animals
Gametes, the specialized reproductive cells of animals, are also called sex cells. There are two types of gametes: sperm, the male gametes, and ova (or eggs), the female gametes.- Sperm, the male gametes, are small, mobile cells containing half of the organism's genetic information (DNA). They are produced in the testes of male animals.
- Ova (or eggs), the female gametes, are significantly larger than sperm and contain the other half of the organism's DNA. They are produced in the ovaries of female animals.
- Gametes are haploid, meaning they contain only one set of chromosomes.
- Gametes are produced through a cell division process called meiosis, which reduces the number of chromosomes in a cell by half.
- Sperm and ova differ greatly in size and mobility. Sperm are small and able to move, whereas ova are large and stationary.
- Fertilisation is the process by which a sperm cell combines with an egg cell to form a zygote.
Gametes are Haploid or Diploid
Gametes are haploid cells containing only one set of chromosomes, half the number found in regular body cells. In humans, regular body cells are diploid, containing 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs. On the other hand, gametes, such as sperm and egg cells, are haploid and contain 23 chromosomes each. The production of haploid gametes from diploid cells is achieved through a specialized form of cell division called meiosis. Meiosis consists of two rounds of cell division, resulting in the formation of four haploid daughter cells. During this process, homologous chromosomes (paired chromosomes) are randomly segregated, and sister chromatids (identical copies of a chromosome) may undergo crossing over, which leads to the exchange of genetic material. This genetic recombination contributes to the genetic diversity seen in offspring. Upon fertilisation, a sperm cell fuses with an egg cell to form a zygote. The zygote is diploid, containing a complete set of chromosomes, with one set inherited from each parent. This fusion restores the diploid chromosome number and enables the development of a new organism.Gametes Example
Gametes, or sex cells, are reproductive cells that combine during sexual reproduction to form a new organism. In animals, males produce sperm in the testes, and females produce eggs in the ovaries. Sperm are small, motile cells with a flagellum, while eggs are larger and non-motile, providing nutrients for the embryo. In plants, spores develop into gametophytes, which produce gametes. Pollen is the male gametophyte in plants, carrying sperm cells to female ovules for fertilisation. Fertilised eggs develop into new plants. Physics Wallah provides the online coaching for NEET students. PW offers access to top-notch instructors and study materials. Our Class 12 NEET online courses are carefully designed to meet the needs of NEET candidates. Enroll Now!| NEET Exam Important Links | |
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Gametes FAQs
What are gametes?
Gametes are an organism's reproductive cells, also known as sex cells. Female gametes are called ova or egg cells, while male gametes are called sperm. These cells are haploid, meaning they carry only one copy of each chromosome.
Are gametes diploid or haploid?
Humans are typically diploid, with most cells containing 23 pairs of chromosomes. However, human gametes (egg and sperm cells) are haploid, containing a single set of chromosomes.
What is a male gamete called?
A male gamete is called sperm, or spermatozoa, a haploid cell produced through Spermatogenesis.
What is a female human gamete?
The female gamete in humans is called an egg or ovum, produced by the ovaries. When a male gamete, sperm, fuses with the egg, it forms a zygote.
Is a gamete a baby?
No, a gamete is a reproductive cell that, upon uniting with another gamete during sexual reproduction, forms a zygote. The zygote develops into an organism. This process is known as anisogamy or heterogamy, where female and male gametes differ in size (e.g., the ovum is about 20 times larger than a sperm cell in humans).
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