What type of reproduction involves the fusion of gametes?

The correct answer is sexual reproduction because it specifically involves the fusion of gametes, which are specialized reproductive cells. In animals, these are typically sperm and egg cells. When these gametes combine during fertilization, they create a zygote that develops into a new organism. This process introduces genetic variation, which is a key characteristic of sexual reproduction. It allows for the mixing of genetic material from two parents, resulting in offspring that have traits from both.

In contrast, asexual reproduction does not involve gamete fusion but instead occurs through methods such as budding or vegetative propagation, where a new organism is formed from a single parent. Cloning involves creating a genetically identical copy of an organism, and binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction used by single-celled organisms, where the organism divides into two identical offspring. These processes do not involve the fusion of gametes, distinguishing them clearly from sexual reproduction.