What is the process of reducing chromosome sets from diploid to haploid and producing gametes called?

The process of reducing chromosome sets from diploid to haploid and producing gametes is known as meiosis. During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two rounds of division, ultimately resulting in four haploid cells, each containing half the number of chromosomes as the original cell. This reduction is crucial for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when gametes (sperm and eggs) fuse during fertilization, the resulting offspring will have the correct diploid number of chromosomes.

Meiosis is characterized by specific stages, including prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, which help segregate homologous chromosomes and distribute them into daughter cells. This not only reduces the chromosome number but also increases genetic variability through processes such as crossing-over and independent assortment.

The other options mention different biological processes: mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two identical diploid daughter cells, fertilization refers to the fusion of haploid gametes to form a diploid zygote, and gametogenesis is the broader term for the formation of gametes, which includes all the processes involved in their development, including meiosis. However, the specific term for the reduction of chromosome sets is meiosis.