Which process produces gametes for sexual reproduction in multicellular organisms?

Meiosis is the specialized type of cell division responsible for producing gametes, or sex cells, in multicellular organisms. This process reduces the chromosome number by half through two rounds of division, resulting in four non-identical daughter cells, each with a unique combination of genes. This genetic diversity is crucial for sexual reproduction because it allows for variation among offspring.

During meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair up and undergo crossing over, which further shuffles genetic material. The end products, typically sperm and eggs in animals, contain only one set of chromosomes (haploid), which is necessary for fertilization, allowing the combination of genetic material from two parents. In contrast, other processes like mitosis are focused on growth and repair through producing identical daughter cells, while binary fission is primarily a method of asexual reproduction in prokaryotes. Cell differentiation refers to the process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type; it does not directly involve the production of gametes.