What type of cell division results in gametes?

The process that results in the formation of gametes is meiosis, which is a specialized type of cell division crucial for sexual reproduction. During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two successive divisions, ultimately producing four haploid gametes, each with half the number of chromosomes as the original cell. This reduction in chromosome number is essential for maintaining genetic stability across generations when gametes fuse during fertilization.

Meiosis includes two key stages: meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, reducing the chromosome number by half. In meiosis II, the sister chromatids are separated, similar to what happens in mitosis. This intricate process not only accomplishes the formation of gametes but also introduces genetic variation through crossing-over and independent assortment, both of which occur during meiosis.

In contrast, mitosis is a process that results in two genetically identical daughter cells, which is essential for growth and tissue repair but not for producing gametes. Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction commonly seen in prokaryotes, where a single organism divides into two, and fertilization is the process by which gametes unite to form a zygote. These processes are distinct from meiosis