Final answer:
Gametes carry genetic information from parents to offspring and are haploid cells produced through meiosis and gametogenesis processes within the gonads.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the student's question about gametes (sex cells) is option C: Gametes pass the genetic code from parent to offspring. Gametes are haploid cells meaning they contain half the number of chromosomes compared to somatic, or body cells, which are diploid. Specifically, in humans, gametes have one set of 23 chromosomes. These gametes are produced through a special type of cell division called meiosis, which includes meiosis I and meiosis II phases resulting in four haploid daughter cells. The development of these cells into mature gametes is known as gametogenesis. In males, this process is called spermatogenesis and results in the formation of sperm, while in females it is called oogenesis, leading to the production of eggs. These gametes are only produced within the gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females) and are not found in every tissue of the body.