Students should understand that meiosis leads to non-identical cells being formed while mitosis leads to identical cells being formed. • Sexual reproduction involves the joining (fusion) of male and female gametes: sperm and egg cells in animals; pollen and egg cells in flowering plants. • In sexual reproduction there is mixing of genetic information which leads to variety in the offspring. The formation of gametes involves meiosis. • Asexual reproduction involves only one parent and no fusion of gametes. There is no mixing of genetic information. This leads to genetically identical offspring (clones). Only mitosis is involved.