Which type of cell division produces gametes?

The production of gametes, which are the reproductive cells (sperm and eggs), occurs through the process of meiosis. Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four haploid cells from one diploid cell. This reduction is crucial for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when gametes fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes.

Meiosis involves two rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II) and includes reductional division, where homologous chromosomes are separated. This leads to genetic variation among gametes due to processes such as crossing over and independent assortment. Such variation is vital for evolution and the adaptability of species.

In contrast, other types of cell division such as mitosis, binary fission, and fragmentation serve different purposes. Mitosis is responsible for growth and tissue repair by producing identical diploid cells. Binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction seen in prokaryotes, leading to two identical cells. Fragmentation also refers to a form of asexual reproduction where an organism splits into fragments, each capable of developing into a new individual. These processes do not contribute to the production of gametes.