Final answer:
Gametogenesis is the process of forming sex cells through meiosis. In males, it's called spermatogenesis and occurs in the testes, producing sperm. In females, it's called oogenesis and occurs in the ovaries, resulting in one large egg.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of sex cells formation in males and females, known as gametogenesis, involves the creation of male and female gametes through meiosis. In males, this process is called spermatogenesis and occurs in the testes, producing sperm cells. These sperm cells develop a tail and gain the ability to swim, an adaptation essential for fertilization. Each round of spermatogenesis typically generates four sperm cells from a diploid precursor cell.
In females, the process is referred to as oogenesis, occurring in the ovaries and leading to the formation of egg cells or ova. Unlike spermatogenesis, oogenesis results in one large egg from the four haploid cells resulting from meiosis due to the unequal division of cytoplasm. This egg is a non-motile, nutrient-rich cell much larger than the sperm.
During sexual reproduction, these haploid gametes, sperm from males and eggs from females, combine during fertilization to form a diploid zygote. This zygote contains two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, and marks the beginning of a new organism's development.