Final answer:
The process of meiosis in sexual reproduction produces four haploid cells, known as gametes. Through gametogenesis, these cells mature into sperm in males and eggs in females. Fertilization combines these gametes to form a zygote, which develops into a new organism through mitosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The haploid cells produced by meiosis II are gametes. In male animals, gametes are called sperm. In some plants, pollen grains contain haploid sperm cells. The female gamete is called an egg in animals and some plants. Fertilization: the fusion of male and female gametes - generates new combinations of alleles in a zygote. The zygote undergoes cell division by mitosis and eventually forms a new organism.
Meiosis is an essential biological process that ensures the proper number of chromosomes is transmitted to the gametes. It begins with a diploid cell such as a primary spermatocyte in males, which after two rounds of division, results in four haploid cells. It is during the stage known as gametogenesis that these haploid cells develop into mature sperm or eggs, capable of fertilization. The process in males is known as spermatogenesis, where spermatids are transformed into sperm, and in females, it is called oogenesis, resulting in a mature egg. After fertilization, the zygote will carry out many rounds of mitotic cell division, contributing to the formation of a multicellular organism representative of the species.