Final answer:
Gametes are specialized haploid sex cells, with male gametes called sperm and female gametes called eggs, produced through spermatogenesis and oogenesis, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gametes are specialized sex cells created through a process called gametogenesis. In humans and many other organisms, these cells carry half the genetic material of regular body cells, making them haploid cells with one set of chromosomes. Male gametes, or sperm, are produced in a process known as spermatogenesis, which takes place in the testes. Female gametes, or eggs, are produced through oogenesis in the ovaries. Gametes are crucial for sexual reproduction as they combine genetic material from two parents during fertilization to form a zygote.