Final answer:
Sexual reproduction is the process where genetic material from two parents combines during fertilization to form a zygote, resulting in genetically diverse offspring. Asexual reproduction, like binary fission, produces identical offspring from a single parent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of reproduction in which offspring receive genetic material from two parents is called sexual reproduction. This biological process involves the fertilization of gametes, which are haploid reproductive cells produced by each parent. During sexual reproduction, the sperm from the male parent and the egg from the female parent unite in a process known as fertilization, leading to the formation of a zygote.
The zygote is a diploid cell, meaning it contains a complete set of chromosomes—half from each parent. This results in genetically diverse offspring that differ from both parents and each other. This genetic diversity is critical for the survival and adaptation of species within changing environments.
Conversely, asexual reproduction, such as binary fission, generates offspring that are genetically identical to the single parent.