What type of cell division is associated with producing gametes?

Meiosis is the type of cell division specifically associated with the production of gametes, which are the reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms. It is a specialized form of division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically diverse haploid cells from one diploid parent cell. This is essential for maintaining the stability of chromosome numbers across generations through sexual reproduction, as the fusion of two gametes during fertilization restores the diploid state.

During meiosis, two successive divisions occur: meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes separate, while in meiosis II, sister chromatids separate. This process not only shuffles genetic material through crossing over and independent assortment, leading to genetic variation but also ensures that when gametes fuse during fertilization, the resultant zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes.

The other processes listed do not play a role in gamete formation. Mitosis, for example, produces two identical diploid daughter cells and is involved in growth and repair rather than sexual reproduction. Binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction seen in prokaryotes, where a single organism divides into two identical entities. Spore formation is a reproductive method used by some