Final answer:
Asexual reproduction is the process where a single parent produces offspring without the fusion of gametes, leading to genetically identical offspring. Option b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of reproduction in which offspring are produced by a single parent, without the union of reproductive cells, is called asexual reproduction. This process leads to offspring that are genetically identical to the parent.
Asexual reproduction can occur through several methods, such as binary fission, where a cell divides into two daughter cells, budding, where a new individual grows on the parent before becoming separate, or fragmentation, where a part of the parent organism develops into a new individual. In contrast, sexual reproduction involves two parents and produces genetically diverse offspring.