[XBob]

It seems to me, it has been a long time, so please forgive me if I err, but I think both gametes have a full compliment of chromosomes, and there is a complicated dance after conjugation to get down to the proper number of chromosomes.

However, be that as it may - the sperm and the egg are alive, are they not? So why don't they have 'souls'?

[MHGinTN]

The gametes (sex cells) are called diploids, because they each have half the number of chromosomes of a typical somatic cell of the body of origin. These gametes are extremely differentiated from their origin, their original totipotent age. Every alive cell in your body has been derived from less differentiated cells at some age along the continuum of your lifetime begun at coneption. [Would you read the essay, Bob?]

[MHGinTN]

So why don't the sperm and ovum have souls? ... Bob, I'm certain from past discussions we've had that you actually do know the difference in organ and organism.