Final answer:
Gametes are haploid cells that contain half the genetic information compared to diploid cells like somatic cells or zygotes. The correct answer to the question is A) Gamete, as they have half the number of chromosomes to combine with another gamete and form a diploid zygote.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'Which of the following cells below would contain 1/2 the genetic information?' refers to the difference in genetic content between various types of cells. In humans and other organisms, gametes (reproductive cells like sperm and egg cells) are haploid, meaning they contain half the amount of genetic information compared to other cells in the body. This is because they are designed to combine with another gamete to form a zygote, which will have the full set of genetic information (diploid).
Somatic cells are the body cells that are not involved in reproduction. These cells are typically diploid, containing the full set of chromosomes. In humans, that means 46 chromosomes. Therefore, they do not contain half the genetic information but rather the full amount needed for an individual organism. A zygote is the initial cell formed when two gametes unite during fertilization and is also diploid, having received a full set of chromosomes from each parent.
Prokaryotic cells do not fit the context of this question as well as gametes do since prokaryotes often have a single, circular chromosome and the amount of genetic material varies widely across different prokaryotic species.
In summary, gametes are the cells that contain half the genetic information, as they are haploid and meant to combine during fertilization to form a diploid cell, such as a zygote.
The correct option is A) Gamete.