In which process does a single cell divide to form four genetically different gametes?

Meiosis is the process where a single cell divides to produce four genetically diverse gametes. It is a specialized type of cell division that occurs in organisms that reproduce sexually. During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two sequential rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II) after a single round of DNA replication.

In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated into different daughter cells, leading to genetic variation through processes such as independent assortment and crossing over. This is critical for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that the gametes (sperm and eggs) have unique combinations of alleles, which contributes to genetic diversity in offspring. Following meiosis II, the two cells produced from meiosis I further divide, resulting in a total of four haploid gametes, each genetically distinct from the original cell and from each other.

This process is fundamental to the formation of eggs and sperm in animals, and it allows for the mixing of genetic material from two parents, which is essential for evolution and adaptation. Thus, meiosis is clearly the correct answer as it specifically describes the production of four genetically different gametes through a series of carefully orchestrated divisions and genetic recombination.