What is a gamete?

A gamete is specifically defined as a sex cell, which can either be a sperm cell in males or an egg cell in females. These cells are crucial for sexual reproduction, as they carry genetic information from each parent and unite during fertilization to form a new organism. Unlike body cells, which are involved in growth and repair, gametes have the unique role of combining genetic material from two different individuals, leading to genetic diversity in offspring. This function is essential for the continuation of species and the process of evolution.

In terms of other types of cells, body cells, or somatic cells, serve different functions within an organism, and are not involved in the reproduction process. Similarly, cells that store energy or contribute to the immune system do not meet the criteria to be classified as gametes, since they perform entirely different biological roles.