Here's why:
* Sperm and egg cells are gametes, which are specialized cells that carry half the genetic information of an organism.
* During fertilization, a sperm cell fuses with an egg cell, combining their DNA to create a new individual with a full set of chromosomes.
* Before fertilization, the DNA in both sperm and egg cells is replicated, creating an exact copy of the genetic information.
* During replication, the DNA molecule is "unwound" and each strand serves as a template for creating a new, complementary strand. This process ensures that each gamete carries a complete set of genetic instructions for the offspring.
Therefore, it's not just one specific cell that "reads" the DNA, but rather the machinery within both sperm and egg cells that is responsible for copying and transmitting the genetic information during reproduction.
