What is the process called that involves the production and fusion of gametes?

The process that involves the production and fusion of gametes is called sexual reproduction. In this process, two distinct gametes—typically from two different parents—combine during fertilization to form a zygote. This zygote then undergoes development to form a new organism.

Sexual reproduction is significant as it increases genetic diversity in a population, allowing for greater adaptability to changing environments and the potential for evolutionary advancements. The combination of genetic material from two parents means that offspring have unique genetic combinations, which can lead to varying traits that might benefit the species.

In contrast, asexual reproduction does not involve gametes or the fusion of genetic material from two parents; instead, it involves a single organism reproducing on its own, resulting in clones of itself. Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction seen in prokaryotic organisms, such as bacteria, where a single cell divides into two identical cells. Regeneration refers to the ability of some organisms to regrow lost body parts, not related to the reproduction of gametes.