What is the term for a reproductive cell involved in sexual reproduction?

The term for a reproductive cell involved in sexual reproduction is a gamete. Gametes are specialized cells that are produced by organisms for the purpose of reproduction. In animals, the two main types of gametes are sperm and eggs (ova). During sexual reproduction, these gametes unite during fertilization to form a zygote, which is the initial cell that develops into a new organism.

Understanding the structure and function of gametes is crucial in the study of genetics and reproduction, as they carry half the genetic information necessary to create a new individual. This genetic material is important for the hereditary traits passed from parents to offspring. In contrast, the other terms listed refer to different aspects of reproduction: embryos are the developing stages post-fertilization, chromosomes are the structures within cells that contain DNA, and zygotes are the result of the fusion of two gametes, but not the gametes themselves.