Which of the following processes is involved in the fusion of gametes?

Fertilization is the process involved in the fusion of gametes, which are the reproductive cells—sperm in males and eggs in females. During fertilization, these gametes unite to form a zygote, initiating the development of a new organism. This process is essential for sexual reproduction, as it combines the genetic material from two parents, leading to genetic diversity in offspring.

In contrast, pollination refers specifically to the transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma in flowering plants, which is a step preceding fertilization in plant reproduction. Germination involves the process by which a seed develops into a new plant, which follows fertilization but is not directly related to the fusion of gametes. Cloning refers to the asexual reproduction process where genetic duplicates of organisms are created, thus bypassing the need for gametes and fertilization.

By focusing on how fertilization enables the combination of male and female genetic material, it becomes clear why this process is the correct choice in the context of gamete fusion.