What type of cell division produces reproductive cells or gametes?

Meiosis is the type of cell division that specifically produces reproductive cells, also known as gametes. This process is essential for sexual reproduction, as it reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in haploid cells. In humans and many other organisms, meiosis occurs in specialized cells within the gonads: the ovaries in females and the testes in males.

During meiosis, a single diploid cell undergoes two rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II) to produce four genetically unique haploid cells, each containing one set of chromosomes. This genetic variation is vital for evolution and adaptation, as it allows for different combinations of alleles to be passed on to the next generation.

In contrast, mitosis is a process of cell division that produces two identical diploid daughter cells for growth and repair, not for reproduction. Fertilization involves the union of two gametes to form a zygote, and binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction commonly seen in prokaryotes, leading to the division of a single cell into two identical daughter cells.