What term is used to describe reproductive cells such as egg and sperm?

The term used to describe reproductive cells, such as egg and sperm, is "gametes." Gametes are specialized cells that are involved in sexual reproduction. In animals, the female gamete is the egg (ovum), and the male gamete is the sperm. These cells carry half the genetic information of an individual; when they combine during fertilization, they form a zygote, which contains a complete set of chromosomes.

Other terms like chromosomes, genes, and chromatids refer to different components of genetics. Chromosomes are structures within cells that contain DNA, which carries the genetic blueprint of an organism. Genes are specific sequences of DNA that code for traits, while chromatids are the two identical halves of a replicated chromosome. Understanding that gametes are the reproductive cells crucial for sexual reproduction highlights the distinction between these different genetic components.