What process forms the gametes?

The formation of gametes occurs through the process known as meiosis. Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the production of haploid cells. This reduction is crucial for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when gametes fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes.

In meiosis, a single diploid cell undergoes two rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II), leading to the formation of four genetically diverse haploid cells. This genetic diversity is generated through processes such as crossing over and independent assortment, which shuffle the genetic material.

In contrast, mitosis is a process of cell division that produces two identical diploid daughter cells and is used for growth and tissue repair, not gamete formation. Fertilization is the process of the fusion of two gametes, while apoptosis refers to programmed cell death, which is unrelated to the formation of gametes. Thus, meiosis is specifically designed for the production of gametes, making it the correct answer.