What process creates haploid gametes?

The process that creates haploid gametes is meiosis. This specialized form of cell division reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four non-identical haploid cells from one diploid parent cell. In sexually reproducing organisms, these haploid gametes, such as sperm and eggs, are crucial for sexual reproduction.

During meiosis, two rounds of division occur: meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated into different cells, while in meiosis II, the sister chromatids are separated. This reduction division is essential for maintaining the species' chromosome number across generations; when two haploid gametes fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote restores the diploid chromosome number.

In contrast, processes like mitosis and binary fission do not result in haploid cells. Mitosis produces two genetically identical diploid daughter cells, while binary fission is an asexual reproduction method seen in prokaryotes that also results in two identical cells. Normal cell division typically refers to mitosis as well, reaffirming that it maintains the diploid state rather than producing gametes.