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Reproduction refers to the biological process by which new individual organisms, or offspring, are produced from their "parents". Reproduction is a fundamental feature of all known life. There are two main types of reproduction: asexual and sexual.

Asexual reproduction is a mode of reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes or change in the number of chromosomes. The offspring that arise by asexual reproduction from a single cell or from a multicellular organism inherit the genes of that one parent only. This type of reproduction is common in single-celled organisms such as bacteria and archaea, as well as in some multicellular organisms like plants and fungi. Examples include binary fission, budding, and vegetative propagation.

Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of gametes, typically from two parents, to produce a genetically diverse offspring. Gametes are specialized reproductive cells, such as sperm and eggs, which are haploid, meaning they contain half the number of chromosomes as the somatic cells of the organism. Fertilization, the fusion of sperm and egg, results in a diploid zygote, which develops into a new organism. This process is characteristic of most animals, plants, and fungi, and it plays a crucial role in evolution by promoting genetic variation within populations. This variation can lead to adaptation to changing environments.