syngamy

9.9

Two sex cells, like an egg or sperm, join to make a new cell with genes from both parents

noun
/ˈsɪŋɡəmi/

Specialized

: singamia

During syngamy, the male and female gametes combine to form a zygote.

Examples

Syngamy occurs when two reproductive cells unite, creating the first stage of a new organism's development.
This process is called syngamy.

Academic text (1990)
The fusion of nuclei during syngamy is crucial for ensuring genetic diversity in sexually reproducing species.

Synonyms

impregnation

vssyngamy

Specialized

1 7.7

When sperm or pollen fertilize a female reproductive cell to start a new organism

focuses on the fusion event producing a zygote, not only development start

amphimixis

vssyngamy

Specialized

9.9

A sperm and an egg join to make a new organism

includes fusion of gametes or nuclei to make a zygote or diploid cell

fecundation

vssyngamy

Specialized

9.9

When a sperm cell joins an egg cell to make a new embryo

covers fusion that creates a new cell rather than just describing fertilization

karyogamy

vssyngamy

Specialized

9.9

Two cell nuclei join to form one nucleus during sexual reproduction in fungi or yeast

is broader, covering fusion of whole reproductive cells as well as nuclei

Surface Forms

syngamy singular

syngamies plural

Morphology

syngamy = gamy (semi-transparent) = syn + gamy

The meaning 'together' + 'union' matches the biological sense, but '-gamy' is a specialized bound morpheme that many learners do not recognise, so inference is not fully obvious.

Etymology

Syngamy comes from Greek parts syn- meaning 'together' and -gamy from gamos meaning 'marriage' or 'union'. So, syngamy is like a 'marriage' of two reproductive cells that join to make a new cell.