What is the process called by which cells divide to produce gametes?

The process by which cells divide to produce gametes is called meiosis. Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically distinct haploid cells from a single diploid parent cell. This is essential for sexual reproduction, as gametes (sperm and eggs) must have half the usual number of chromosomes to ensure that when fertilization occurs, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number.

Meiosis consists of two consecutive divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, while in meiosis II, sister chromatids are separated. During this process, genetic recombination occurs, which increases genetic variability in the offspring.

In contrast, mitosis is a process of cell division that results in two identical diploid daughter cells, used for growth and tissue repair rather than for producing gametes. Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction seen in prokaryotes where a single cell divides into two identical cells. Cell differentiation is the process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type and is not directly related to the production of gametes or the division process itself.