|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
gamete
gamete A specialized haploid cell (sometimes called a sex cell) whose nucleus and often cytoplasm fuses with that of another gamete (from the opposite sex or mating type) in the process of fertilization, thus forming a diploid zygote. In the lower plants the male gamete is a motile antherozoid, which needs water as a medium in which to move, similar to the spermatozoon in animals, and the female gamete is contained in the archegonium. In higher plants the male gamete is contained in the male gametophyte (microspore) and the female gamete is contained in the female gametophyte (megaspore); fertilization takes place only after the gametophytes come into contact (pollination) and the male gamete can be released without having to leave the plant. This adaptation, permitting fertilization in the absence of water, is analagous to internal fertilization in animals, and, like internal fertilization of animals, is an adaptation to dry environments. Usually there are many small male gametes, but only a few or one female gamete.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "gamete." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "gamete." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-gamete.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "gamete." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-gamete.html |
|
gamete
gamete A specialized haploid (see HAPLOID NUMBER) cell (sometimes called a sex cell) whose nucleus and often cytoplasm fuses with that of another gamete (from the opposite sex or mating type) in the process of fertilization, thus forming a diploid zygote. In some animals (e.g. mammals) the gametes are differentiated: the male is a motile sperm with reduced cytoplasm, and the female is immobile with a large amount of cytoplasm called the egg or ovum, which develops when stimulated. Usually there are many small male gametes, but only a few or one female gamete.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "gamete." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "gamete." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-gamete.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "gamete." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-gamete.html |
|
gamete
gamete A reproductive cell that fuses with another gamete to form a zygote. Examples of gametes are ova and spermatozoa. Gametes are haploid, i.e. they contain half the normal (diploid) number of chromosomes; thus when two fuse, the diploid number is restored (see fertilization). Gametes are formed by meiosis. Gametes often differ in size, the smaller (usually male) gamete being known as the microgamete and the larger (usually female) as the macrogamete. See also sexual reproduction.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"gamete." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gamete." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-gamete.html "gamete." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-gamete.html |
|
gamete
gam·ete / ˈgamēt; gəˈmēt/ • n. Biol. a mature haploid male or female germ cell that is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote. DERIVATIVES: ga·met·ic / gəˈmetik/ adj. |
|
|
Cite this article
"gamete." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gamete." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-gamete.html "gamete." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-gamete.html |
|
gamete
gamete Reproductive sex cell that joins with another sex cell to form a new organism. Female gametes (ova) are usually motionless; male gametes (sperm) often have a tail (flagellum) enabling them to swim to the ovum. All gametes are haploid having a single set of chromosomes in each cell.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"gamete." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gamete." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-gamete.html "gamete." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-gamete.html |
|
gamete
gamete A specialized haploid cell (i.e. a sex cell) the nucleus and often the cytoplasm of which fuse with that of another gamete from the opposite sex or mating type in the process of fertilization.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "gamete." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "gamete." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-gamete.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "gamete." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-gamete.html |
|
gamete
gamete (gam-eet) n. a mature sex cell: the ovum of the female or the spermatozoon of the male. Gametes are haploid, containing half the normal number of chromosomes.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"gamete." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gamete." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-gamete.html "gamete." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-gamete.html |
|
gamete
gamete XIX. — modL. gameta — Gr. gametḗ wife, gamétēs husband, f. gámos marriage.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "gamete." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "gamete." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-gamete.html T. F. HOAD. "gamete." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-gamete.html |
|
gamete
gamete : see reproduction . |
|
|
Cite this article
"gamete." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gamete." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-gamete.html "gamete." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-gamete.html |
|
gamete
gamete
•accrete, beat, beet, bittersweet, bleat, cheat, cleat, clubfeet, compete, compleat, complete, conceit, Crete, deceit, delete, deplete, discreet, discrete, eat, effete, élite, entreat, escheat, estreat, excrete, feat, feet, fleet, gîte, greet, heat, leat, leet, Magritte, maltreat, marguerite, meat, meet, mesquite, mete, mistreat, neat, outcompete, peat, Pete, petite, pleat, receipt, replete, seat, secrete, sheet, skeet, sleet, splay-feet, street, suite, sweet, teat, treat, tweet, wheat
•backbeat • heartbeat • deadbeat
•breakbeat • offbeat • browbeat
•downbeat • drumbeat • upbeat
•sugar beet • Blackfeet • flatfeet
•forefeet • exegete • polychaete
•lorikeet • parakeet
•athlete, biathlete, decathlete, heptathlete, pentathlete, triathlete
•kick-pleat • paraclete • obsolete
•gamete • crabmeat • sweetmeat
•mincemeat • forcemeat • backstreet
•concrete • window seat
|
|
|
Cite this article
"gamete." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gamete." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-gamete.html "gamete." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-gamete.html |
|