Here's why:

* Germ cells are specialized cells that are set aside early in development. They are the only cells that can undergo meiosis, the process of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes by half.

* Meiosis produces four haploid gametes (sperm or egg cells) from one diploid germ cell.

* Haploid cells contain only one set of chromosomes, unlike diploid cells, which have two sets.

Therefore, the germ cell is the direct precursor to haploid gametes.