* Meiosis: Each parent produces specialized reproductive cells called gametes (sperm in males, eggs in females). These gametes are formed through a process called meiosis, which reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half.
* Haploid Gametes: The resulting gametes are haploid, meaning they have only one set of chromosomes (n). For example, humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes (2n), but their sperm and egg cells have only 23 chromosomes (n).
* Fertilization: When a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell, their haploid chromosomes combine to form a diploid zygote (2n). This zygote now has a complete set of chromosomes, half from the father and half from the mother.
In summary:
* Parents: Have two sets of chromosomes (diploid, 2n)
* Gametes: Have one set of chromosomes (haploid, n)
* Offspring: Receive one set of chromosomes from each parent, resulting in two sets (diploid, 2n).
This process of sexual reproduction ensures genetic diversity in offspring, as they inherit a mix of traits from both parents. It also allows for adaptation to changing environments, as new combinations of genes can arise.
