Final answer:
Gametes contain one set of chromosomes, making them haploid cells. This haploid nature is crucial for maintaining the constant chromosome number in sexually reproducing species.
Step-by-step explanation:
All gametes contain C. one set of chromosomes. Gametes are the reproductive cells used during sexual reproduction to pass on genetic information from parents to offspring. In humans, for example, while somatic (body) cells are diploid (2n) and contain two sets of chromosomes, gametes are haploid (n) and therefore contain just one set of chromosomes, which is half the number of chromosomes found in somatic cells.
During fertilization, one haploid sperm cell and one haploid egg cell merge to form a zygote, which is diploid (2n), containing two sets of chromosomes; one set from each parent. This reduction in chromosome number by half is essential to maintain the species' chromosome count across generations and is achieved through a specialized type of cell division called meiosis.
In biology, gametes are sex cells that are involved in sexual reproduction. They are haploid, meaning they contain one set of chromosomes. For example, human gametes (sperm or eggs) have 23 chromosomes each. Upon fertilization, each gamete contributes one set of chromosomes, creating a diploid cell with two sets of chromosomes.