During which process do alleles segregate and form gametes?

Alleles segregate and form gametes during meiosis, which is the process of cell division that results in the formation of gametes (sperm and egg cells). During meiosis, specifically in the first meiotic division (meiosis I), homologous chromosomes are separated into different cells. Each chromosome is composed of two sister chromatids, and homologous pairs are segregated to ensure that each gamete receives one allele from each gene pair.

This recombination process allows for genetic diversity in the offspring, as the gametes contain a unique combination of alleles. When these gametes fuse during fertilization, they restore the diploid state, combining the genetic material from both parents.

In contrast, mitosis is a type of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, maintaining the same number of chromosomes and alleles as the parent cell, and does not involve the segregation of alleles for the purpose of gamete formation. Fertilization is the process where two gametes merge, and transcription is the process of copying DNA into RNA, which does not involve the segregation of alleles either.