What is the term for the fusion of male and female gametes?

Fertilization is the correct term for the fusion of male and female gametes. This biological process occurs when the sperm (male gamete) successfully merges with the egg (female gamete), resulting in the formation of a zygote. This process is crucial in sexual reproduction, as it combines genetic material from both parents, leading to genetic diversity in the offspring.

Fertility refers to the ability to conceive and produce offspring, but it does not specifically describe the fusion of gametes. Pollination involves the transfer of pollen from male structures to female structures in plants, facilitating fertilization but is not directly the act of gamete fusion. Reproduction is a broader term that encompasses all processes leading to the production of new individuals, including sexual and asexual methods, but does not specifically denote the act of gamete fusion. Therefore, among the choices, fertilization precisely identifies the event where male and female gametes combine to initiate the development of a new organism.