Answer: a. gametes (sperm and eggs)
Step-by-step explanation:
Meiosis is a process of cell division that occurs in the reproductive cells (gametes) of an organism, such as sperm and eggs in humans. During meiosis, the number of chromosomes in the cell is reduced by half, resulting in cells with half the number of chromosomes as the original cell. This is important for sexual reproduction as it ensures that the offspring will have the correct number of chromosomes. Gametes are the cells that fuse during fertilization to form a zygote, which will develop into a new organism.
Somatic cells, also known as body cells, are not produced through meiosis, but by mitosis, a type of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells. The process of mitosis preserves the number of chromosomes in the cells and is responsible for the growth and repair of the body.