Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Sexual reproduction is a type of reproduction where two parents contribute genetic material to produce offspring that are genetically different from either parent.
These are the reproductive cells (sperm in males, eggs in females) that carry genetic information. They're like the individual ingredients for our cake.
This is the process by which gametes are produced, involving two rounds of cell division that result in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. It's like preparing and measuring out your ingredients before you start baking.
This refers to differences in genes between individuals within a population. It's like having different flavors or types of cakes because not all cakes (offspring) will be exactly alike due to variations in their 'ingredients' (genes).