anisogametes
|a-ni-so-ga-metes|
/ˌænɪsəˈɡæmiːts/
(anisogamete)
unequal sex cell
Etymology
'anisogamete' originates from New Latin/Greek, specifically the prefix 'aniso-' from Greek 'anisos' meaning 'unequal' and 'gamete' from Greek 'gamētēs' (from 'gamos') meaning 'spouse' or 'marriage'.
'anisogamete' developed from the term 'anisogamy' (Greek-derived scientific coinage) via New Latin and was adopted into modern English scientific vocabulary in the 19th–20th century to name unequal gametes explicitly.
Initially built from roots meaning 'unequal' + 'marriage/union', the compound came to mean specifically 'gametes of unequal size or form' in biological usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
gametes (reproductive cells) that differ in size or form from one another, characteristic of anisogamy; typically referring to smaller motile and larger non-motile or less motile sex cells.
In some algae and protozoa, anisogametes fuse during sexual reproduction to form a zygote.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/13 07:07