Final answer:
The generic name for sex cells or haploid cells of both sexes is a gamete. Gametes, including sperm and eggs, are reproductive cells carrying half the genetic information (haploid) compared to diploid body cells and are key to sexual reproduction. When gametes from two individuals combine during fertilization, they form a zygote with complete genetic material.
Step-by-step explanation:
The generic name for sex cells or haploid cells of both sexes is a gamete. These reproductive cells are produced during a process called meiosis and carry half the number of chromosomes compared to normal body cells – they have the haploid (1n) number of chromosomes. In humans, while body cells are diploid with 46 chromosomes, gametes have only 23 chromosomes.
There are two types of gametes: sperm and eggs. Sperm, the male gametes, are produced in the testes during spermatogenesis. Eggs, the female gametes, are produced in the ovaries during oogenesis. When a sperm and an egg unite during fertilization, they form a diploid cell called a zygote, which has the complete genetic material needed to develop into a new individual.
Sexual reproduction involves two parents who produce gametes that join in fertilization to create a zygote. Each gamete contributes one set of chromosomes, ensuring genetic diversity in offspring. In multicellular life-forms, the production of gametes can be part of alternating life cycles where haploid and diploid stages both play significant roles.