23 Individual chromosomes

### Gametic Cells

## Step1: Understanding the Concept of Chromosomes### Chromosomes are thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells. Each chromosome is made of protein and a single molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In humans, chromosomes are present in pairs. For example, one chromosome from the mother and one from the father.## Step2: Understanding the Concept of Gametic Cells### Gametic cells, also known as sex cells, are the cells used during sexual reproduction to produce a new individual organism or zygote. In humans, these are the sperm cells in males and the egg cells in females. Each gametic cell contains only one set of chromosomes, which is half the number of chromosomes found in other cells of the organism.## Step3: Relating Chromosomes and Gametic Cells### When a sperm cell from the father fuses with an egg cell from the mother during fertilization, the resulting zygote has a complete set of chromosomes - half from the mother and half from the father. This is why gametic cells are unique because they contain only one set of chromosomes, unlike other cells in the body which contain two sets of chromosomes.