What type of cells are sperm and eggs classified as?

Sperm and eggs are classified as gametes because they are the reproductive cells that unite during fertilization to form a new organism. Gametes are characterized by containing half the number of chromosomes found in somatic cells, which are all the other body cells that make up an organism (i.e., the cells that do not contribute to reproduction). Specifically, gametes are haploid cells, meaning they carry only one set of chromosomes (in humans, this is 23 chromosomes) as opposed to diploid cells, which contain two sets (46 chromosomes in humans). Gametes play a critical role in sexual reproduction, allowing for genetic variation through the combination of genetic material from two parents.