What is the female gamete referred to in biological terms?

The female gamete is biologically referred to as the ovum (plural: ova). Ova are produced in the ovaries and are crucial for sexual reproduction, as they are the cells that participate in fertilization with male gametes, known as sperm. Each ovum contains half of the genetic material needed to form a new individual.

In the context of reproduction, the sperm is the male gamete, while the fertilized egg refers to the zygote created when an ovum is fertilized by a sperm. The term "gamete" itself is a general term that encompasses both male and female reproductive cells but does not specifically denote the female counterpart. Therefore, the term "ovum" is the most precise and correct answer when identifying the female gamete.