Which type of cell division results in gametes?

Gametes are the reproductive cells used in sexual reproduction, specifically sperm and eggs in animals. The process that leads to the formation of gametes is called meiosis. Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically diverse haploid cells from one diploid cell. This reduction is crucial because it ensures that when two gametes fuse during fertilization, the resulting offspring has the correct diploid number of chromosomes.

Meiosis involves two sequential rounds of division: meiosis I and meiosis II. During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, and during meiosis II, sister chromatids are separated. This process not only reduces the chromosome number but also introduces genetic variation through recombination and independent assortment, which is important for evolution and adaptability of species.

This is why meiosis is the correct answer for the type of cell division that results in gametes.