Fertilization is the process by which a sperm cell fuses with an egg cell to form a zygote, which then develops into a new individual. Gametogenesis refers to the formation of gametes, which are specialized sex cells, and can occur through meiosis or mitosis. In animals, gametogenesis takes place in the testes and ovaries, while in plants, it occurs in the antheridia and archegonia. There are two main types of gametogenesis: spermatogenesis, which is the formation of male gametes (sperm), and oogenesis, which is the formation of female gametes (eggs) .
Parthenogenesis, on the other hand, is a form of asexual reproduction in which an embryo develops from an unfertilized egg cell. This process can occur in animals, plants, and algae. In animals, parthenogenesis results in the development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg cell, while in plants, it is a component process of apomixis. Parthenogenesis can occur without meiosis through mitotic oogenesis, and the offspring produced by this process are full clones of their mother.
In summary, fertilization is the fusion of a sperm cell with an egg cell, while gametogenesis is the formation of specialized sex cells through meiosis or mitosis. Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction in which an embryo develops from an unfertilized egg cell.
