MEGAGAMETE Meaning and
Definition
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A megagamete is a term used in the field of biology and reproductive sciences to describe a large, female haploid gamete, or sex cell. It is typically found in plant species that exhibit alternation of generations or in certain groups of algae. Megagametes are responsible for producing the female haploid offspring in sexual reproduction.
Unlike microgametes, which are male gametes, megagametes are generally larger in size and contain more genetic material. They are formed through the process of meiosis, where a diploid cell divides twice to yield four haploid cells. Only one of these four haploid cells will become a megagamete, while the remaining three cells disintegrate or become non-functional.
Upon fertilization, megagametes combine with microgametes, resulting in the formation of a zygote with a full complement of chromosomes (diploid). This zygote will ultimately develop into an embryo, which can then grow and develop into a mature organism.
In plants, megagametes are typically produced within specialized structures such as ovaries or ovules, while in algae, they may be produced within reproductive cells known as conceptacles. The formation and fusion of megagametes play a vital role in the diversity and continuation of plant and algal species.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MEGAGAMETE
- megagamgte
- megagame4e
- megagamede
- megagamepe
- megagameve
- megagameue
- megagametu
- megagametm
- megagameta
- megagametg
- megagameat
- m egagamete
- me gagamete
- meg agamete
- mega gamete
- megag amete
- megaga mete
- megagam ete
- megagame te
- megagamet e
Etymology of MEGAGAMETE
The word "megagamete" is composed of two parts: "mega-" and "gamete".
The prefix "mega-" comes from the Ancient Greek word "megas", which means "large" or "great". This prefix is often used in scientific terminology to indicate something of a large or exceptional size. For example, in other words, like "megabyte" (a million bytes), "megafauna" (large animals), or "megalopolis" (a vast urban area).
The term "gamete" comes from the Greek word "gametēs", which means "husband" or "wife". In biology, the term was coined by the German biologist Wilhelm Ludvig Johannsen in 1909 to refer to the specialized reproductive cells involved in sexual reproduction.
