gamete
pronunciation
How to pronounce gamete in British English:
UK [ˈgæmi:t]
How to pronounce gamete in American English:
US [ˈɡæmˌit, ɡəˈmit]
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- Noun:
- a mature sexual reproductive cell having a single set of unpaired chromosomes
Word Origin
- gamete (n.)
- "sexual protoplasmic body," 1880, coined 1878 by German cytologist Eduard Strasburger (1844-1912), the widespread attribution of the word's coinage to Mendel being apparently erroneous. From Greek gamete "a wife," gametes "a husband," from gamein "to take to wife, to marry," from PIE root *gem(e)- "to marry" (cognates: Greek gambros "son-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law;" Sanskrit jamih "brother, sister," jama daughter-in-law;" Avestan zama-tar "son-in-law;" Latin gener "son-in-law"). See also -gamy. The seventh month of the ancient Attic calendar (corresponding to late January and early February) was Gamelion, "Month of Marriages." Related: Gametal.
Example
- 1. The male gamete could not unite with the female .
- 2. Reproduction involving the union or fusion of a male and a female gamete .
- 3. The flagellated male gamete or sperm .
- 4. All allele pairs randomly segregate during gamete formation .
- 5. Current european laws on gamete donation .