Final answer:
Sexual reproduction is the production of haploid and diploid cells through the fusion of genetic material from two parents. It introduces variation into offspring and is an important factor in the evolutionary success of many organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sexual reproduction is the production of haploid cells and the fusion of a haploid cell from each genetic parent to form a single, unique diploid cell. In multicellular organisms, the new diploid cell will then undergo mitotic cell divisions to develop into an adult organism. A type of cell division called meiosis leads to the haploid cells that are part of the sexual reproductive cycle. Sexual reproduction, specifically meiosis and fertilization, introduces variation into offspring that may account for the evolutionary success of sexual reproduction.