| − | Reproduction by [[meiosis]] and fusion of the [[gamete]]s from a single parent [[organism]] (selfing) or two parent organisms. The parent organisms are usually a male and a female.<ref>Freeman, Scott, ''Biological Science''. Prentice Hall 2005.</ref> In sexual reproduction the gametes produced by the male and female each contain half of the parent's two sets of genes, and fusion of the gametes creates a new cell which has two sets of genes, one set from each parent. Many species reproduce sexually, such as humans, while some species (including many plants and some animals) can reproduce either sexually or [[asexual reproduction|asexually]]. | + | Reproduction by [[meiosis]] and fusion of the [[gametes]] from a single parent [[organism]] (selfing) or two parent organisms. The parent organisms are usually a male and a female.<ref>Freeman, Scott, ''Biological Science''. Prentice Hall 2005.</ref> In sexual reproduction the gametes produced by the male and female each contain half of the parent's two sets of genes, and fusion of the gametes creates a new cell which has two sets of genes, one set from each parent. Many species reproduce sexually, such as humans, while some species (including many plants and some animals) can reproduce either sexually or [[asexual reproduction|asexually]]. |