Gametogenesis (also known as gamete formation) is defined as the process of formation and development of specialized generative cells called gametes.

The male gamete is the sperm and the female gamete is the oocyte (egg). These are both highly specialized cells.

Both male and female gametes have half the number of chromosomes (haploid)than in the somatic (body) cells.

A special type of cell division called meiosis occurs during gametogenesis. This cell division reduces the chromosomes by half. The shape of the cells are also altered.

The maturation process of gametogenesis is called spermatogenesis in males and oogenesis in females.

Differences between male (sperms) and female (oocyte) gametes

1) The oocyte is a large cell while the sperm is a tiny cell.

2) The oocyte is immotile whiile the sperm is motile.

3) Sparse cytoplasm in the sperm cells compared to the oocyte. The oocyte has a large cytoplasm containing yolk granules, which provide nutrition to the zygote (fertilized egg) in the first week of development.

4) The oocyte (egg) is surrounded by the zona pellucida and a layer of follicular cells called the corona radiata.

5) Sperms have two types of sex chromosomal constitution: 23X and 23Y, while the oocyte has only one type 23X. Therefore it is the sperm which determine the sex of an embryo.

References:

Chapter 22 pages 18-23. The developing human- Clinically  oriented embryology 6th edition by Keith L. Moore, Phd, FIAC, FRSM and TVN Persaud MD, PhD, DSc, FRCPPath (Lond)

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